Training & Supports

The ISICI Organisational Development Training Program, funded by the Wheel Training Links Funds, has been pushed out successfully in the West, North East and Border and Dublin Regions over the last few months. A final module in Galway will be held on 6th March and presented by Jipe Kelly, Regional Officer.

To date over fifty representatives from an array of local immigrant organisations have taken advantage of the training to date and the selection process for the next two regional programs will be underway in March and April this year. Representatives from groups or organisations located in the South West or South East of Ireland can find out more about the training by contacting ISICI’s Network Coordinator, Monica Anne Brennan.

Integrating Ireland Training Programs 2006-2009 aimed to support the development of sustainable, empowered, local and ethnic minority, refugee and migrant-led community organisations.

These programs included a variety of approaches including short regional training modules and information sessions, comprehensive National Training Programs as well as a pilot regional organizational development training support and mentorship.

All programs included a variety of participatory earning methods such as discussion, role-playing, reflection, personal sharing, inputs, small group work, large group work, etc. This enabled groups to engage in shaping content.

Supporting Our Members
Our Regional Outreach and Development officers work to support our members, outreaching to and promoting the development and engagement of ethnic minority, refugee and migrant-led community organisations regionally.

Some of the key actions of the Regional Networking Outreach and Development include:
• Outreaching to members and potential members
• Organising regional members meetings/trainings
• Follow-up on issues raised in networking events
• Responding to members information and support needs
• Supporting member and new community organisational development
• Supporting regional participation in policy development, campaigning & communication
• Building partnerships
• Supporting members in developing strategic planning, accessing supports and funding

The team work aims to foster a community development approach to support, including:
• Building sustainable resources, structures and processes within communities
• Empowering and enabling members to work together to identify their needs and exert control over issues that affect their lives, to the collective benefit of the community
• Promoting collective action and participation in addressing community issues
• Recognising and sharing experience, resources and skills to the benefit of the community
• Addressing power inequalities through power sharing
• Challenging institutional structures and public policies that create or perpetuate disadvantage
• Using the experience and perspective of communities to effect change
• Building or building on the sustainable social capital of communities, e.g. networks based on trust, shared norms, values and understandings that facilitate and allow collective community action to develop and strengthen
• Building the capacity of the community to identify, develop and manage the processes, structures and resources necessary to achieve community goals
• Building partnerships with statutory agencies, private sector bodies and local service providers
• Encouraging solidarity throughout the network.

For more information on our support work to members please contact the Networking Team