CECOM

The “Centre d’Etudes de la Communication” (CECOM) (Centre of Communication Studies) is a not-for-profit organisation which specialises in teaching, as well as the evaluation of and support for communication projects.

Created by the Department of Communication at the “Université Catholique de Louvain” over twenty years ago, CECOM benefits from its university expertise. This pooling of the skills from the three research groups which are active today has enabled a variety of projects to be established on institutional, media and journalistic communication or on the mediation of knowledge.

But it is also thanks to the diversity of its public that CECOM can pride itself on representing a genuine interface between the university and civil society. Enterprises, NGOs, associations, as well as the public sector request support from the Centre. Everyone who comes to the Centre receives support which is adapted to their specific needs. The CECOM is a small structure which promotes the rejuvenation of ideas and monitors changes in communication within our society, with regards to communication practices and needs

Concern

Concern Worldwide is working in 30 of the world's poorest countries, engaging in long term development work with core programmes focusing on health, livelihoods, education and HIV/AIDS. Concern also responds to emergency situations, and seeks to address the root causes of poverty through its development education and advocacy work.

Based in Ireland with offices in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, New York and Chicago, Concern employs over 3,800 people and celebrates the diversity of its staff in all of the cultures and countries they work in.

ECDPM  

The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) is an independent foundation. Its activities focus on strengthening capabilities in order to improve cooperation between Europe and African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. The Centre specialises in issues of trade, development and governance, the European Union’s development cooperation and institutional development. The work of the ECDPM is founded on a participative approach which aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and best practice through respecting the diverse perspectives of the different parties involved. Further key values include mutual respect as well as dialogue and reciprocity; conditions which are essential for genuine international cooperation. This explains the foundation’s interest in ‘Building Unity’, for which it is a partner.

Kopin (Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali) Malta is a Maltese based NGDO, whose objective is poverty eradication through the wholesome development and effective empowerment of the poorest communities. It carries out development education and advocacy work, and awareness raising campaigns on North/South issues directed mainly at local and EU development policies. It is the Maltese partner of the communication campaign “Building Unity through Diversity.” Kopin currently coordinates the National Platform of Maltese NGDOs, facilitating and promoting the exchange of experiences with other NGDOs directly or through umbrella networks

PDM – MDP  

The Municipal Development Partnership (MDP) is a Pan-African organisation, whose objective is to accompany governments in their political determination of decentralisation and to strengthen the capacities of local government associations in Africa. Since 1998, the MDP also deals with the organisation every three years of the “Africities” summits, the most important continental platform for policy dialogue on decentralisation and local governance. The next summit will be held in Nairobi from 18 to 24 September 2006 on the topic “Building local coalitions for an effective implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in African Local Governments”.

SUAS

Suas is a youth and education focused organisation which aims to address educational disadvantage in Ireland and the developing world. Suas is about empowering young people, becoming involved and making a positive difference to the lives of others! Suas is secular and a registered charity.

As part of our overseas partner development we provide technical and financial support to six partner and education projects in India and Kenya, promoting high quality education for 10,000 children a year.  Since 2002, over 280 volunteers have worked with schools and education projects in India and Kenya. They work as teaching assistants and coaches for 10 weeks during the summer, attend 3 training weekends and fundraise enough to cover the costs of the trip and a donation to the school.

In Ireland our network of 10 societies provide opportunities to volunteer in mentoring, clubhouse and community development projects fundraise for the overseas schools and raise awareness about development issues.  We run an annual programme of 30 evening courses and speaker events nationwide that aim to engage and inspire the wider public to participate in social change.

YLE Helps is an information and fundraising campaign, jointly run by aid organisations and the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. It was started in 2002 by YLE, the Finnish Red Cross, UNICEF Finland and Finnchurchaid. Towards the end of 2004, these organisations established the YLE Helps Foundation. Since the beginning of 2005, six new organisations have joined the campaign: Save the Children Finland, the Plan Finland Foundation, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission, Fida International, the International Solidarity Foundation and the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK). Funds are raised through YLE’s television and radio broadcasts as well as through events all over Finland. The campaign is entertaining and good-humoured and people are encouraged to take part without the feelings of guilt or pity. From the beginning of the year 2007, the campaign will be implemented as an application of Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day/Sport Relief fundraising events.

Images of Africa: How do the media present Africa?

Connect World

Connect-World is an Irish organisation, created by the development community in Ireland, with a mandate to seek to promote more and better coverage of international development issues in the media.

Funded by Irish Aid and a collection of Irish development NGOs, its role is to facilitate a deeper dialogue between the development community and the media and to help promote a deeper critical analysis of global issues.

www.connect-world.net


The Power of Private Sector in Development

Traidlinks

Traidlinks is a business focused development NGO which aims to become the focal point for Irish businesses wishing to engage in commercial and socio-economic activities in the developing world. Traidlinks works to engage the Irish business community in promoting enterprise to diminish poverty in the developing world and it works to raises awareness of the role of trade in developing countries.

www.traidlinks.ie

Concern and Suas are delighted to bring this project to Ireland and wish to thank the following in making this happen