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MRCI Community Work
MRCI uses a community work approach in promoting the empowerment and participation of migrant workers and their families and in striving for an equal and just society through structural and institutional change. Community work seeks to bring about the active participation of people experiencing exclusion in decision-making structures and is underpinned by the following set of principles:

collective action; participation and inclusion; empowering and enabling; process versus task; non-sexist; non-racist; solidarity not charity; starting where people are at; accountability; self determination; equality based; and thinking globally acting locally.

Community work differs from other forms of activity in that it is concerned not only with the individual participation of individuals, but with creating the conditions for collective outcomes that benefit all members of the community and society. It works from an analysis of society that is concerned with structural inequalities and power dynamics, i.e. class structures, racism, sexism. This analysis also stresses the need to understand and address the root causes of inequality. In using a community work approach MRCI seeks to work in solidarity with other groups within society who share seminar concerns and experience inequalities.

 

The MRCI Migrants Forum
The Forum is held approximately every 6 weeks in the Teachers Club,
36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1.

The Forum provides an opportunity for migrant workers to receive and share information, form a collective analysis of their experiences, and take action on issues affecting their lives. The Forum is held approximately every 6 weeks. There is usually an information and discussion session on different topics, followed by refreshments and an opportunity for migrant workers to meet and chat. Previous Forum Sessions include:

  • Rights as a tenant in private rented accommodation
  • Reaction to the Heads of Immigration, Residence & Protection Bill
  • Employment Rights & Workplace Exploitation - how to make a complaint
  • Citizenship & Long Term Residency
  • Social Welfare

Please contact helen@mrci.ie if you would like to be contacted regarding future Forums

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Domestic Workers Action Group
The DWSG is made up of women working in the private home, as carers or childminders who also do cleaning and housekeeping work. This group meets to discuss issues relevant to them and aims to build leadership, develop a shared analysis and take action on the issues affecting them. The group is currently campaigning, in collaboration with SIPTU and ICTU, for the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee which will formally set out terms and conditions to regulate domestic work.

For the latest edition of the DWAG newsletter click here

In March 2007 a collaborative textile and photography project by the Domestic Workers Support Group - "Opening Doors: Migrant Domestic Workers Speak Through Art" - opened at the Temple Bar Gallery of Photography. The exhibition, which includes photographs and a textile project entitled 'Blurred Boundaries', can be viewed online- click on the banner below:


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Agricultural Workers Association

The Agricultural Workers Association (AgWA) grew out of the Mushroom Workers Support Group established by MRCI. The Group emerged in response to the high levels of esploitation and social exclusion being experienced by migrant mushroom workers and other agri-food workers. AgWA works to ensure that all agricultural workers in Ireland are paid and treated fairly, by doing the follwing:

  • giving agricultural workers information on their rights and entitlements;
  • supporting agricultural workers to receie their full rights and entitlements;
  • working for laws that improve conditions for agricultural workers;
  • building a strong membership organisation for agricultural workers.

If you would like more information about AgWA contact Bill at bill@mrci.ie or 01 889 7570.
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EU & International Activities
As a member of the European Platform for Migrant Workers Rights, MRCI contributes to promoting the rights of migrant workers and their families within the EU and internationally. We continue to support the campaign to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families 1990 (check correct title) MRCI is also a member of PICUM and supports their work to advance rights for undocumented workers. Through an EU funded initiative we are involved with Anti Slavery International in highlighting trafficking for forced labour and debt bondage as a growing concern within the EU. MRCI is committed to and active in efforts to address global inequalities and works in solidarity with others to achieve justice and equality. MRCI's Director is a Boad member of the European Network Against Racism.
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Networking
MRCI networks with organisations and structures at local, national, European and at international level. We work in solidarity with the community sector and are a member of the Community Platform a national platform of 28 national organisations concerned with equality, anti poverty and social inclusion. MRCI is an active member of the Communiity Workers Cooperative a national network organisation concerned a community work approach to social change. Through our work with Pobal and the Local Development and Social Inclusion Programme we network with area based partnerships and community groups. Through the Community Development Programme we network with locally based community development projects and through the Family Support Programme we aim to network with locally based family resource centres. MRCI actively links with and is in solidarity with other immigrant organisations with similar goals. We work in solidarity with organisations with a similar ethos across the globe and actively share information and analysis. MRCI is also active in working with the trade union movement to share best practice and take action on areas of mutual concern.
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Anti-Racism Work
Anti racism is a key underpinning principle in MRCI activities. We aim to incorporate this focus across all programmes and acvtivities. MRCI is currently coordinating ENAR Ireland. The European Network Against Racism is an EU network with coordinations in each of the member states. Membership is open to organisations that have a focus on anti-racism in their work, are committed to tackling racism, and subscribe to ENAR Ireland's aims & objectives. A letter of application should be sent to Siobhan@mrci.ie. The report from ENAR's recent seminar on 'Integration and active citizenship - generating the inclusion of immigrant communities' will be available shortly. MRCI is also a member of the NCCRI Board and migration forum
Click here for more information on ENAR. www.enar-eu.org
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