Webinar - NGO Representations and People from Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds in Ireland

In May 2023 Dóchas launched the new Guide to Ethical Communications. During the consultation process for the new Guide one topic that came up several times was the effect NGO representations has on a more diverse Irish audience. We must begin to ask ourselves "who are we talking to and what are we saying?"

This is what we aim to explore in our next online workshop taking place on Wednesday 6th December at 10am until 11:30am.

The Panel

We are delighted to have the following speakers confirmed for the workshop so far;

• Dr. Ebun Joseph

Dr Ebun Joseph is a Diversity and Race relations consultant, Module Coordinator and Lecturer, Black Studies at University College Dublin (UCD), Director Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies (IABS), and founder & Chairperson, African Scholars Association Ireland, AFSAI (2018-2022). Dr Joseph held the position of Career Development Consultant at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (2017-2021), and was a Teaching Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, Training and Employment Officer EPIC (2007 -2017).

Ebun is an author, TV panellist, Columnist and an equality activist. With a research focus on Labour markets and race relations, she has presented at several conferences, businesses and nonprofits. Ebun is published and contributes regular responses on contemporary issues of race and racism in Ireland. Her recent book is titled, Racial stratification in Ireland: A Critical race theory of labour market inequality with Manchester University press. She also co-authored the book, Challenging Perceptions of Africa in Schools: Critical Approaches to Global Justice Education with Routledge in Jan 2020. Dr Joseph’s 2020 article won the IRJ Prize awarded to the paper adjudicated to represent the best original contribution to the journal in a given year. ‘Composite counterstorytelling as a technique for challenging ambivalence about race and racism in the labour market in Ireland.’

• Ms. Emer O' Neil

Emer O’Neill is a mother of three Kyan 9,  Sunny Rae 3 and Penny 2months. She is Irish/Nigerian born and raised in Bray Co. Wicklow. Emer is currently the Global Citizenship Education Officer with the Irish Girl Guides Emer is well known as a presenter on Home School Hub on RTE educating our children during Covid with her segment “Exercise with Emer” . Emer presented the Today show with Daithi O’Sea on RTE One for a period. She also broadcast the St.Patrick’s Day Parade 2022 and 2023 live on RTE. 

Emer is currently the Global Citizenship Education Officer with the Irish Girl Guides and is also an anti racism activist working to bring awareness to the lack of diversity in the media, state jobs, positions of leadership and in our education system here in Ireland. She has a Tedx talk which was filmed at The Wexford Opera House in 2022, challenging unconcious bias and racism called “Don’t put me in a box”. She is an ambassador for the Olympic Federation Ireland “Don’t Scroll By” campaign. This campaign challenges the Irish public and sports stakeholders to #deletbanreport any hate speech or discriminatory comments they see online. 

She aided in the writing of the “Dare to Believe” programme which is part of the “Don’t Scroll By” campaign. And is a founding member of Bray For Love an anti racism group in her home town. Emer has written policy on Anti Racism for schools and hopes for it to be included as part of The Board of Educations Schools Policies. Emer sat as a member on the steering committee for the Anti Bullying Action Plan 2023 under Minister Norma Foley. Emer is the author of a children’s book called “The Same but Different” a tale about a little girl overcoming her self doubt and journey to embrace her differences and uniqueness.

•  Sarah Hegarty (Facilitator)

Sarah Hegarty has been with Concern Worldwide as Director of Communications for the last eight years.   Prior to this she worked in communications for President Higgins, RTÉ and public relations agency, Fleishman Hillard.  She has over 20 years communications experience.

Who we would like to see at the workshop

This online workshop is open to anyone working in the area of NGO senior management, communications, fundraising, public engagement, development education and global citizen education. 

Register here

Image: Wanjiru Kimuya interviewing Catherine Bahati in Isiolo, Kenya. Videographer- Mackin Barasa. Photo by Mark Njoroge. Photo courtesy of Trócaire