Partnership meeting with Dublin City Council and partner organizations

On the 26th of March the Partnership meeting was held with the participation of local government of Dublin and partner organizations. In the meeting participated: representative of Dublin City Council – Gerry Folan, manager of Mendicity day centre and Trustee of Barka IE – Charles Richards, manager of the “Santa Maria” hostel for the homeless which had been closed last weekend – Catherine, Betty Sission (Mendicity and Trustee of Barka IE), a representative of Crosscare, director of Barka UK – Ewa Sadowska, Barka Leader – Andrzej Sydoruk and Bartosz Pawlak – assistant.
The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the report summarizing the three months’ work of Barka IE, a detailed analysis of those who have returned to Poland, analysis of the people referred to detox, beneficiaries who are being convinced to return to Poland, and those who received documents through Barka or found employment.
The last part of the meeting was devoted to discussion over the new Employment Coordinator of Barka IE.
Participants have expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the results and work of Barka IE in Dublin. The next Board meeting will take place on the 16th of April.

Interviews with media

On the 25th and 26th of March two interviews with Barka IE representatives were held. The first interview was for the national Irish newspaper and a second for the Irish radio station.

Both interviews were with regards to the problem of homelessness of Eastern European migrants in Ireland, the economic crisis and the general lack of jobs.

The journalists asked about the work of Barka IE and other Barka’s branches across Europe. There was a question about the work of Barka Leaders and Assistants, level of addictions of the homeless Poles, the social situation of homeless A10 migrants in Ireland, the Reconnections Project to the home countries, integration and vocational training programmes within the Barka Network and about the forms of active social policy in Poland.
The copies of these interviewes will be posted on Barka websites.

Opening of the new hostel for Central and Eastern European migrants

Last weekend (24-25 March) a new hostel on North Frederic Street was opened. Eastern European residents of the Santa Maria hostel, where Barka IE representatives had worked successfully, moved to the new hostel. So 33 migrants in total changed their residence. In the new hostel there will be protection measures in place such as ban on alcohol and drugs.
Barka IE employees will start to work with migrants in the new hostel from the 2nd of April.
Prepared by Bartosz Pawlak, Barka IE project assistant Tel. +353 86 839 6271

Barka Ireland Board Meeting

A Board meeting of the Barka IE was held on the 25th of March in the headquarters of the Mendicity center, where the Barka representatives work with the A-10 migrants. In the meeting participated the following Trustees: Betty Sission, Charles Richards, Ewa Sadowska, Andrzej Sydoruk and Bartosz Pawlak. The meeting was a summary of the three months of work of Barka IE. The financial issues were discussed as well. An important point of the meeting was discussion over the new employment coordinator.
The representatives of Mendicity have expressed their enthusiasm and support for the work carried out by Barka IE and they see the possibility of continuing the project and further cooperation.

Meeting at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin

On the 24th of March, a three-hour meeting with Polish organizations in Ireland was held at the premises of the Polish Embassy in Dublin. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the following organizations: Barka IE and Barka UK, “Caird”, “CKU”, “Crosscare”, “Forum-Polonia”, “Limerick”, “My-Mind”, “Razem-Together” and “Umbrella”.
Meeting was chaired by Consul Wojciech Dzięgiel. During his speech Consul Dziegiel talked about issues related to the relationship between with the Consulate and the Polish Embassy in Dublin and the Polish organizations working, in the broad sense, in the area of social assistance. The representatives of Barka in Ireland presented the results of the Reconnections Project run in Dublin.

Consul and representatives of organizations have expressed their appreciation for the work of Barka IE and willingness to cooperate and participate in a study visit to Barka Nerwork in Poland.

Next meeting will take place at the end of June. At the meeting Barka was asked to present a six-month report on the results of the Reconnection project and the Employment project of A10 nationals in Dublin.