The Irish Association of Development Workers – holding event in Cork tomorrow

This Saturday, May 21, Comhlámh - the Irish Association of Development Workers - will be holding its Global Development Forum and Annual General Meeting at the Metropole Hotel in Cork city.

Comhlámh (pronounced ‘co-law-ve’) is the Irish for ‘solidarity’.

The Global Development Forum is part of Comhlámh’s 30th Anniversary celebrations. It will mark the key successes through the years and identify the challenges for building public support for global justice.

Returned Development Workers and other interested parties and individuals around Ireland are invited to attend by contacting Comhlámh directly at Cork 021-427 5881 or by email at comhcork@iol.ie

Comhlámh was established in 1975 by APSO (the Irish Government) to support returned development workers (RDWs), who in turn sought to promote effective global development. Since then it has grown into a national membership organisation of RDWs and others interested in global development issues.
Comhlámh provides free support, advice and guidance for all RDWs; to facilitate their return to Ireland, to deal with ‘reverse culture shock’ and assist them in settling back in. This support ranges from social to careers guidance, information on tax, pensions, health etc and importantly engaging them in the debates in Ireland on development.

Comhlámh believes that effective action at tackling the root causes of poverty needs to happen at home. Comhlámh seeks to take the experiences of the RDW and channel it into challenging Irish & EU policies. In recognising the need to raise the level of debate and understanding amongst the public on development issues, Comhlámh actively invites all who are interested on global justice issues to join in its advocacy work and to build their capacity as educators and campaigners.

It is interesting to note that the issues debated in 1975 still resonate today (migration, anti-racism, international trade, the EU) and Comhlamh has active groups on issues such as Trade Justice, Anti-Racism, Development Education, and Refugee Solidarity. It organises courses, seminars and workshops for its members and the public alike, and it has its Compass initiative to primary schools.

Contact:

Cork: Carol Doyle – 021-427 5881

www.comhlamh.org