New employment project worker

Barka IE had requited a new employment project worker. The new employee started work on the 15th of May. The responsibilities of the employment worker are: preparing CV, organizing job interviews, issuing PPS number, encouraging to attend English classes and other courses like safe pass course or manual handling course.

Steering group with Dublin City Council and partner organizations

On Monday the 14th of May the meeting of partners was held in Homeless Agency. In the meeting there were present representatives of: Dublin City Council, Mendicity Board, CrossCare, De Paul, Simon Community Detox, Polish Consulate and Barka IE. Partners discussed the two weeks report and the results of Barka IE work in reconnection and employment projects. The representative of Consulate – Magdalena Nowacka talked about good cooperation with Barka IE. Mary Fleming – representative of Simon Community Detox – mentioned the importance of the process of Barka IE staff gaining trust not only of the beneficiaries, but also of the Irish institutions. This trust is essential for Barka IE staff to present good results of their work. During the meeting partners talked about the challenge of work with other than Polish Central and Eastern European nationalities. Partners also talked about the issue of the date of the completion of the 6-months pilot project of Barka IE which is scheduled for the end of June. Next steering group meeting will take place after the study visits of partners in Poland – on Monday the 4th of June.

Barka IE received a grant of €23,507.00

Barka IE received a grant of €23,507.00 from Leonadro da Vici Mobility 2012 program. The grant is to be spent on organizing 2 weeks training program in Barka Network in Poland for 15 people from Ireland: social workers, counselors, employees of integration centers in Ireland, Dublin City Council employees, representatives of charity organizations, etc. The project must take place during next six weeks.

Meeting with Larkin Job Club

Barka organized a meeting in the hostel with Larkin Job Centre on Friday the 11th of May. People from the Job Centre talked about possible option of help in looking for job, writing CV, preparing for interviews, etc. They made appointments for Larkin Centre to work personally with the people interested to extend their job-seeking perspectives. They also stressed that it is very difficult to find job on the labour market in Dublin and also native Irish and young foreign people with good English have problems in finding jobs. 11 people made appointments with the Larkin Job Centre for searching employment options.

Safe Pass course

Between the 10thof May and the 19thof May Barka IE organized a safe pass course for 9 people from the hostel. The safe pass certificate is needed for working in construction.

Visit in Polish Consulate

Barka IE staff visited Polish consulate on the 9th of May to talk with the General Consul about situation of Polish migrants in Dublin and in Europe. The Consul was interested in the work Barka is doing in “reconnection projects” across Europe. We talked about the cooperation – the Consul thanked Barka for the work done for our fellow-citizens and Barka thanked for the help which we received from the Consulate. We talked about passports which Barka is arranging for Polish migrants and the Consul asked if Barka will be able to pay the debts of the people who need a new passport. Barka was able to pay for the three men which took passport before and did not pay for it.

Meeting with De Paul organization

Barka IE staff had a meeting concerning the residents of North Frederic St. hostel with De Paul organization. To workers form De Paul and Barka leader and assistant will work jointly on changing the situation of the residents. At the moment there are 34 men living in the hostel. Barka and De Paul are undertaking several activities to change the life situation of the residents: reconnection, employment, medical assistance, help with receiving financial support from welfare office, etc.

Steering group with Dublin City Council and partner organizations

On Tuesday the 1st of May partnership meeting took place. In the meeting representative of Dublin City Council – Gerry Folan took part and also representatives of Simon Community Detox – Mary Fleming, representatives of De Paul organization – David Carroll and Catherine Scully, representative of MendicityInsitution – Charles Richards and Barka IE staff – AndrzejSydoruk, Maria Sadowska and BartoszPawlak. During this meeting partners were discussing the monthly report and issues of Barka IE work in the North Frederic St. hostel and Mendicity Institution (day center which supplies meals). The results of the reconnection and employment projects were discussed. Partners also talked about their study visit in Poland which will take place at the end of May (27-30.05.2012). Next meeting will take place on Monday the 14th of May at 2 pm in The Homeless Agency.

Barka IE – Summary on the work during 9 January 2012 until 23 March 2012

Barka Reconnections project in Dublin has started on the 9th of January 2012. Barka staff Leader (Andrzej Sydoruk) and Barka assistants have been based in Mendicity Institution Day Centre as well as the Santa Maria Hostel.

January 2012: 240 contacts with 40 beneficiaries
February 2012: 519 contacts with 52 beneficiaries
March 2012 (1st March – 23rd March): 570 contacts with 57 beneficiaries


Recruitment of an employee for the coordination of employment project

During the 24th to the 28th of March Barka in Dublin conducted a recruitment process for the coordinator of the employment project. More than twenty applications were received by Barka IE. The Board selected five top candidates with whom the interviews were held. The interviews were conducted by the Director of Barka UK – Ewa Sadowska.

The new staff member will be responsible for assistance into employment, helping to obtain documents and a PPS number, assisting with writing CVs and in contacting the job agencies.
The new employee will start work from the 15th of April on a part-time basis