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Refugee project opens doors in Dún Laoghaire

Thursday, 22 May 2008

The National Plan Against Racism officially launched a report commissioned to evaluate a drop-in centre for refugees in South County Dublin last week.
The report entitled ‘Opening Doors’ studied the experiences of those availing of the services provided by the Dún Laoghaire Refugee Project (DRP) drop in centre which is funded by local advocate group, the Southside Partnership.
The process of documenting the lessons to be learned from the DRP’s drop-in-centre was identified as one of the actions within the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown ARD Plan - an inter–agency initiative which is funded through the National Action Plan Against Racism.
The participants in the refugee project’s report highlighted a number of areas in which they had received assistance that they would otherwise not have been able to access.
Regarding education, the report noted that in 2007, 41 participants were being supported to attend a wide range of educational courses. This support took the form of careers guidance, assistance with enrolment, and the provision of financial support for course fees and related costs.
“If this assistance was not available through the centre, the participants would not be in a position to access third-level education,” the report stated.
A high number of participants said the project had encouraged the fostering of good relationships between themselves and the gardaí.
In addition, those involved mentioned how they had learned things about life in Ireland through talks and workshops run in the centre which has made it easier for them in their day-to-day lives.
The centre also helped people to feel less alone and was successful in raising the profile of young asylum seekers with politicians.
Speaking at the launch, Lucy Gaffney, chairperson of the National Action Plan Against Racism, said the report provided a framework from which other communities could learn and progress in the provision of services for asylum seekers thereby giving them a better standard of life.
“Through the excellent work of the Dún Laoghaire Refugee Project, asylum seekers and refugees have been given a space to meet on a weekly basis,” she said.
“The recommendations and the direct feedback from the users of the service will be invaluable to other people throughout the country who are working hard to ensure that the most effective measures and resources are put in place to support successful integration in Ireland.”
At the launch, Sandra King of the Southside Partnership commented: “As part of the county’s ARD plan we at the Southside Partnership are pleased to launch the evaluation of the DRP’s Monday night Drop In Centre which is a highly successful initiative that reaches out to young people seeking asylum.”
Mary King, chairperson of the DRP welcomed the report and spoke about the success of the drop-in-centre and in particular the experience of the volunteers who give so much of their time to the programme. She also thanked the Southside Partnership for facilitating the report.
“I think one of the positive aspects of the report was finding out young people’s responses as to what the centre means to them and whether we are fulfilling their needs,” she said.
The Dún Laoghaire Refugee Project was established in 2001 to offer practical assistance to asylum seekers accommodated at hostels in the town.
It comprises a group of people, living mainly in the greater Dún Laoghaire area, who volunteer their time to try to help refugees and asylum seekers, especially the young. Education and training are priorities for these young people.
Anyone who would like to find out more information about the centre can contact the DRP at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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