EKS
The positive approach of “powerful” people in Ireland is prosperous for integration of foreigners
Sabe Soe, Eva Kavková
“The positive approach of “powerful” people was very inspiring. The Members of Parliament and city council representatives gave us an example of positive attitudes to migration and migrants, an example of how this complex phenomenon can be beneficial for people and the state in a modern society.”
- Ljudmila, member of the Czech National Platform of Migrant Women and participant in the international meeting in Dublin
![[Networking%20Migrant%20Women%20Dublin/IMG_5068_m.jpg]](http://www.ekscr.cz/content/images/Networking%20Migrant%20Women%20Dublin/IMG_5068_m.jpg)
One of the members of the Czech team used these words to evaluate the third meeting of migrant women from the Czech Republic, Germany, and Ireland. This time, the meeting was held in Dublin, Ireland from 13 to 16 October 2011. Without a doubt, the greatest experience for participants was meeting with legislators and going on a tour of the Irish Parliament. There followed a hot debate as to why there are so few women (only 10%) in the Irish Parliament and what tools can support the political participation of migrant women. Participants from the Czech Republic described the meeting as extremely beneficial for their further involvement in the integration of foreigners.
Meeting with Irish experts and professionals in the field of migration, the cooperation between local government, local authorities, and government agencies with migrant organizations, and foreigners’ own community projects were a great inspiration to the participants.
"An incredibly rich programme of meetings – starting with a tour of the Irish Parliament, and direct communication with Members of Parliament through to informal discussions with members of the project’s partner organizations AkiDwA (Ireland) and Maisha (Germany), the courage and active citizenship of the members of these organizations – and getting to know these members – was an invaluable professional experience but also a spiritual experience.”
- Elena, member of the Czech National Platform of Migrant Women and participant in the international meeting in Dublin
Thanks to the diverse range of participants in the three-day workshop (the Czech group was predominantly made up of migrant women from the former Soviet Union, while the Irish and German organizations work primarily with women who were born in Africa) we learned that during the formation of migration and integration policies it is essential that the many socio-cultural differences between migrants be taken into account. The different countries from which migrants originate play a role in the degree of their successful integration in the host country.
More photos from the event are available here.
The Networking Migrant Women project is supported, as a part of the Lifelong Learning Programmes - Grundtvig Programme, by the National Agency for European Educational Programmes.
