SUSTAINABILITY and solidarity in the community will be at the fore of the annual ChangeMakers Donegal seminar early next month.
Taking place at the Station House Hotel in Letterkenny on Friday, June 9, the annual seminar is inviting everyone who is interested in coming together to share ideas to attend the free and public event.
Speakers on the day include Rebekah Shirley of World Resources Institute Africa and David O’Hare, Communications Officer with Trócaire, who are ChangeMakers partners, along with Inishowen Development Partnership, Self Help Africa, Donegal ETB, and Concern Worldwide.
David will speak about the impact of climate change on Somalia following a visit there recently.
“I am looking forward to delivering a speech about climate change at ChangeMakers Donegal’s upcoming annual seminar,” said David.
“Trócaire has enjoyed a long partnership with ChangeMakers Donegal and both organisations are funded by Irish Aid to work for global justice in today’s unbalanced world.
“Just six weeks ago, I visited Somalia, where eight million people are facing starvation. This is the consequence of three years without rain. A drought the like of which hasn’t been seen for four decades has been fuelled by climate change and the result has been devastating for the people of this east African country.
“While these are hard truths to confront, it is my hope that speaking about my recent experiences in Somalia, telling the stories of the people I met, will spur on more action at a local level as we all have a role to play in confronting climate change.”
ChangeMakers raise awareness of global issues, such as sustainability, climate change, gender equality, Fairtrade, and so much more, but in a local way.
“Global issues are local issues and that’s what Irish Aid and our partners support us to highlight here in Donegal,” said Myra McAuliffe, Project Coordinator of ChangeMakers Donegal.
“In the past year we’ve worked with local people to embrace Fairtrade products in towns and villages across Donegal and we’ve celebrated UN Mother Tongue Day and we’ve launched our new Sustainability Passport programme.”
The ChangeMakers Sustainability Passport Programme offers a guide to a more sustainable life specific to Donegal and isopen to individuals, community groups, social enterprises and businesses.
Buncrana Tidy Town Committee piloted the Sustainability Passport by choosing to focus on reusing and recycling in recent months, by taking up community gardening in the community garden owned by the Swilly Community Employment Programme behind the Vincents Buncrana shop on the Main Street.
“This shows sustainability in action in the community and we hope it will encourage local people to reuse waste materials in their everyday activities given Ireland produces the highest
volume of plastic waste per person in the EU ,” added Myra.
Myra hopes that the annual seminar on June 9 will be an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, as well as a chance to look to the future and see how when local come together to share conversations and ideas.
“ChangeMakers is quite unique in Ireland and thanks to our partnership model we’ve been going 11 years now,” said Myra.
“We invite anyone interested in a movement for change to come along to the Station House Hotel Letterkenny on Friday 9 June 2023 as we’ll make plans there for the year of ahead of inclusive education and discussion for adults.”
As well as Rebekah and David being the main speakers at the annual seminar on June 9, there will also be a a panel discussion featuring Greencastle Community Centre, Muff District Heritage Group and the Donegal Gay Walking Group and others who signed up to the Seeds of Change Grant and Mentoring programme as well as music from the New Lands Choir.
Booking for the seminar is now open and while it is a free event people are asked to book their spot in advance to allow for lunch/dietary requirements for the venue.
Book your free spot now via Eventbrite and the link below:
For more information see www.changemakers.ie
