Intercultural week report

Show Racism the Red Card has had a busy week as UN Intercultural Week concludes today. From joint workshops with the FAI Intercultural officer with school groups in South Dublin on Wednesday and Thursday and our launch at Bohemians on Friday to the Mosney Reception Centre open day on Sunday.Our activity for intercultural week kicked off with on Friday March 16th at Mount Carmel’s secondary school’s intercultural day. Together with the FAI Intercultural Co-ordinator Show Racism the Red Card delivered three very well received workshops with students in the school. On Wednesday 21st and 22nd, Show Racism the Red Card with the FAI Intercultural Co-ordinator delivered a workshop for 120 pupils from 3 primary schools and 3 secondary from Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin before they participated in a football blitz hosted by the South Dublin Council/ FAI Football in the community development officers.Our Unite Club with Communities campaign got off to a fantastic start with a lively interactive events involving over 60 pupils from 8 inner city primary and secondary level schools with Liam Burns and Dean Pooley of Bohemian FC, who were joined by ex-Ireland international Curtis Fleming, Tsiki Duma (Mosney United) and pupils from Balbriggan Community College who recently won an award from Fingal Council for their work against racism.Stephen Mc Guinness (Acting General Secretary of the PFAI) compered the event while Noel Mooney (National Club Promotions Officer with the eircom League of Ireland) compered the Q&A session which was described by panellists as ‘hard’.Fran Gavin (Chairman of Show Racism the Red Card and Director of the eircom League of Ireland) spoke about the campaign within the league and reported the progress from the pilot projects delivered last year.Signing up to implementing UEFA 10 point plan against racismDes Tomlinson (FAI Intercultural Programme Co-ordinator) spoke about the forthcoming intercultural plan soon to be published by the FAI with recommendations on promoting participation and support on the part of black and ethnic minority communities within Irish football. He spoke about the roll out of the UEFA 10 point plan against racism, and the good practice fund being put in place to support clubs to implement the plan.Garrett Mullan (National Co-ordinator for Show Racism the Red Card) spoke about the projects work with clubs and immigrant communities and added that at the top of our agenda is the production of an educational DVD which would harness the role model status and profile of top stars in Irish football, GAA, rugby and other sports for anti-racism education.Show Racism the Red Card had a stall at the first open day at Mosney Accommodation Centre which attracted hundreds of locals who have not visited the centre since it has been transformed into an asylum seeker reception. Residents of Mosney pitched stalls with facts, food and dress of their countries. Outside, the FAI Local Development Officers delivered coaching to kids, while inside the stalls were on display. The open day concluded with some fantastic music from an Irish band, Congolese band Adorons l’Eternel, and a full concerto rehearsal from Dublin Youth Orchestra.