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The centre was offically launched on June 10th in the Civic Offices, Clondalkin by Deputy Mayor Councillor Guss O'Connell .The guest speakers attending the launch were: Philip Watt Director NCCRI, Deputy Mayor Councillor Guss O'Connell and Padraig Rehill, Chairperson of the Clondalkin Partnership Board.In the past years, Clondalkin Partnership has been involved in several initiatives and projects in the area of integration and interculturalism.
David Lynch, the Equality Co-ordinator at Clondalkin Partnership said “the Intercultural Centre comes as an add-up to already existing actions taken by Clondalkin Partnership to facilitate integration. Through these actions and previous outreach work, the Partnership was successful in developing a solid ground for the Centre”.The Centre will be facilitating the integration of minority ethnic groups and the wider community and to promote interculturalism. In this regard, Phillip Watt, Director of National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism stated: “I very much welcome the development and official launch of the Intercultural Centre in Clondalkin.
As Ireland becomes increasingly diverse, we need more of such centres to facilitate dialogue, understanding and interaction at a local level. This is one of the first such centres in Ireland and provides a focal point for minority communities in the Clondalkin area to access information on for example English language classes, employment and training and integrated summer youth projects. We congratulate the Clondalkin Partnership in developing this centre and would call on the government to support similar initiatives across the country.”
Intercultuarlism, as an approach to integration, is promoted in the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP). This approach has been adopted by Clondalkin Partnership and constitutes the guiding principle of the Intercultural Centre. Work in the Centre commenced in March. Padraig Rehill, Chairperson of the Clondalkin Partnership Board, welcomed the opening of the Centre. Partnership staff and Manager Aileen O’Donoghue have been working very hard to get this project off the ground.
General Information about the Centre
The Intercultural Centre is located in the heart of Clondalkin Village, on 15 Tower Road. It is a POBAL funded project of Clondalkin Partnership with the objective of assisting the integration of new communities in the wider South Dublin area.
The centre will provide the following services:
· Information and Communication: Providing general information to clients and offering
· Access to PCs and Phones.
· Cultural Events including a Film club.
· Education & Training: Leaflets translation, Homework club, English Language classes
· Promotion of Anti - racism: staff of the Intercultural Centre will work with service agencies to promote integration
· Health issues: supporting Ethnic Minority Health Forums
· Sports: work together with local groups and Schools in the area to increase participation of ethnic minority population in local sports activities
Address: Intercultural Centre, 15 Tower Road, 01-4577213,
Email: intercultural@clondalkinpartnership.ie
Opening hours for the Centre: Mon - Fri 9-4pm. Closed for Lunch 1-2 pm
