National Youth Council of Ireland
Comhairle Náisiúnta na nÓg
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release19TH November 2010
Young people unmask images and messages of the world
Young people from across Ireland will gather tomorrow (Saturday, Nov 20th) in the Carmelite Centre, Dublinto celebrate One World Week.To open the event, Mbemba Jabbi, Education Officer at the Africa Centre will make a presentation on images and messages and discuss how the media portrays Africa and its people*. Following this young people will display their artistic creations which range from colourful and expressive masks to drama performances and the group P-Stars will perform an original rap.
Five Zambian youth workers visiting Ireland on an exchange will attend the event funded by Trócaire and Irish Aid to share their experiences and view the work from young people. One World Week is a week of youth-led awareness raising, education and action on local and global justice issues to take action to bring about change. The event will explore the impact of images and messages on our attitudes and behaviour, and showcase the work that youth groups in Ireland are doing to raise awareness of the world around us.
“Despite the current recession, young people continue to show a deep commitment to action in solidarity with other young people around the world. They are increasingly aware of the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of people living in their communities. Along with many migrant communities who are frustrated by the negative portrayal of migrants and their countries of origin in parts of the media, they want to highlight the way images and messages about young people living in Ireland and the Global South affect how they are perceived and treated by society. Today is a showcase of the creative ways in which young people are tackling this important issue,” stated Johnny Sheehan, Development Education Coordinator in NYCI.
The groups taking part in the event are:
- Ronanstown Youth Service
- Celtic Youth Bray
- Ballyfermot Youth Services
- Congolese Anti-Poverty Network, Dublin
- St. Mary’s Youth Club Balbriggan
- ECO UNESCO, Dublin
For further information contact Clodagh O’Brien, Communications Officer at NYCI on 087 781 4903, 01-478 4122 or e-mail
Notes to Editors:
*The Africa Centre is the lead organisation on a European Commission funded project to examine images and messages in development with a particular focus on Africa and Africans living in Europe.
NYCI is a signatory of the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages.
National Youth Council of Ireland:
The National Youth Council of Ireland is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of 55 voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.