Tearfund Ireland

BACKGROUND

Tearfund is a faith-based international relief and development agency, involved in humanitarian response and development work in communities particularly in Ethiopia, Cambodia, Lebanon and Uganda. Here in Ireland it is involved in Development Education work in the non-formal Youth and Adult and Community sectors, some of which is funded by Irish Aid.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Global Justice in Youth Work Facilitation Skills Training Programme: Tearfund Ireland trains youth leaders primarily in the faith-based sector to give them the skills, knowledge and resources to integrate global justice themes into their ongoing youth work and to mobilise their youth groups to act for a more just and sustainable world. Where possible an overseas partner and representatives of local NGOs participate in the programme.

Volunteering in Orphanages - Exploring the Issues: In its overseas work Tearfund Ireland has been involved in reintegrating children from orphanages and children’s homes back into families and communities. Here in Ireland there has been a steady rise in the numbers of young people volunteering to care for children housed in residential institutions in developing countries. A growing body of research has shown the harm that can be caused by institutionalisation particularly in terms of attachment. There is currently little or no development education exploring these issues in Ireland. Tearfund Ireland provides DE workshops on this issue and is currently developing a DE resource for the Irish context (with funding from Irish Aid), to explore the underlying issues, foster critical thinking and encourage informed action on this challenging global justice theme.

Exploring Climate Justice with Youth - training and resourcing: Tearfund Ireland are working with the youth leaders of an all island youth organisation to build their capacity to introduce Climate Justice themes into their youth work, providing both facilitator training and resources.

One off workshops: Tearfund Ireland facilitators provide one off workshops in schools, community groups and for businesses on request.

CURRENT THEMES: Climate Justice, Poverty, Refugees and Migration, Exploring the SDGs, Volunteering in Orphanages and Facilitation Skills Training in Development Education.

Tearfund Ireland works in the 26 counties and responds to requests to deliver workshops on global justice themes in a group’s own context.

For further information please contact: emma.lynch@tearfund.ie