SPIRASI Peer-Led Public Education

SPIRASI has re-launched its public awareness project to provide information to schools and universities about the work of SPIRASI and to encourage an understanding of the experiences of our clients who use the centre. The SPIRASI Public Awareness Officer along with a team of trained volunteers, who are asylum seekers and refugees themselves visit shools, colleges and other institutions and give interactive presentations. The project uses the peer-led team learning methodology of training and has developed relevant and dynamic ways to educate the public on Ireland's asylum and immigration issues, and on the work of SPIRASI. The information provided in the sessions is tailored and adapted to the needs of the audience. SPIRASI encourages participating institutions to hold their own fund raising events or to provide volunteers to raise funds to cover the costs of the presentation and contribute to the work of SPIRASI.

The aim of this programme is to provide awareness with regard to the work of the organisation and in particular to encourage understanding of the experiences of those who use the centre: asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants. The SPIRASI Public Education Programme seeks to develop an awareness and appreciation of interculturalism and to encourage people to think about issues around race, culture and ethnicity.

In the past, teams have visited many of the schools in the Dublin region and beyond and the presentations are often lively and interactive affairs. Aside from developing relationships with schools, the team has given presentations to a diverse range of audiences including social workers, teachers and voluntary groups. Topics for discussion range from issues around cultural understanding and integration to practical responses to the health and educational needs of many of our clients.

If you would like the SPIRASI public awareness officer to come and talk to your group or if you would like more information on this public awareness project, please contact Egide Dhala.

A session at a Templeogue secondary school