Building Unity through Diversity comes to Northern Ireland in 2008

Exhibition – the acclaimed outdoor 1000 Families photo exhibition by photographer Uwe Ommer was on display in the grounds of City Hall, Belfast, from Tuesday 19th August to Friday 12th September. Our thanks to Belfast City Council for their help in faciltating this.  The exhibition was accompanied by the following events:

Family & Cultural Day , Saturday 30th August. City Hall, Belfast 12 noon – 6pm

The diversity of Northern Ireland was recently celebrated amongst the spectacular 1000 Families exhibition, attracting several thousand people on a largely rain free Saturday afternoon in the grounds of City Hall. The event featured entertainment for adults and children alike,  including musical displays, poetry, Chinese calligraphy, Indian dancing, African drumming, story telling workshops and an arts and crafts area for making kites and hats!

Families of all varieties stopped to have their photo taken as part of Belfast's Family Album, while 1000 Families photographer was on hand to sign copies of the fascinating 1000 Families book.  To purchase your copy of the book click here.

Click here to see the RTE news report that featured the same night.

Africa & the Media Seminar
Wednesday 3rd September, 12 Noon to 2pm. Linen Hall Library

Seamus McKee of BBC Radio was the dynamic chair of this event, which heard first from Nigerian reporter Julius Anakaa who gave examples of how the local media can ignore or misreport issues about non-national communities. Hans Zomer of NGO Coalition Dóchas told the audience about a voluntary Code of Conduct developed by aid agencies, that attempts to regulate how images and words are used, ensuring that the rights and dignities of the people portrayed are protected.

Irish News columnist Anne Hailes spoke about her experiences reporting from Concern projects in Rwanda and Bangladesh, as well as outlining some of the challenges facing journalists. The event was followed by very lively discussion from members of the audience. This event was supported by CADA – the Coalition of Aid & Development Agencies in Northern Ireland. 

Diversity and Equality in the Workplace, Tuesday 9th September.  Linen Hall Library, 12 noon – 2pm

With our population rapidly becoming more diverse, how do organisations effectively implement and equality policy that embraces all cultures?

This lunchtime seminar presented a number of issues around diversity and integration in Northern Ireland workforce.  Bob Collins of the Equality Commission chaired the discussion, with input from a number of speakers.  Kasia Garbal, Migrant Workers Project Officer from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions outlined some of the challenges facing workers arriving to Northern Ireland, and stressed the need to think of migrant workers as more than just economic units.  Khanyisela Moyo, Vice chair of the Afro Community Support Organisation, built on this theme, citing examples of discrimination experienced by some workers, and suggesting potential improvements in legislation and practice.  Councillor Naomi Long  MLA spoke about the work of Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Unit, which is promoting best practice on integration within its own workforce, and through community based organisations and events.  Claire Hanna from Concern provided information on the development organisation’s own Equality Policy, which has been developed to accommodate nearly 4000 staff working in 28 countries, with very diverse cultures.  The presentations were followed by questions and comments from the audience, which included representatives of private, public and voluntary sector organisations.

Unesco Centre International Development Programme
The Unesco Centre is based at the University of Ulster Coleraine campus, providing and supporting research, teaching and development to promote pluralism, human rights and democracy locally and globally.   Building on an existing relationship with Concern Worldwide, the Centre will partner with the Building Unity through Diversity project in 2008, bringing the exhibition to Magee and Coleraine campuses, hosting discussions on diversity and development. 

Travelling Exhbition

Two smaller sets of the 1000 Families exhibition are availalble for use at events linked with diversity.  The exhibition consists of 50 family images and each image size is 50cm x 70cm.  Contact buildingunity@concern.net for more information