March 2023

On St. Patrick's Day, We Act took part in the Cork festivities. At the 2023 parade, we had five charities & a whale join us! Love & Care for People, Ocean's Plastic CLG, Cork Counselling Services, No Name Club, and SERVE all took part.

There were over 56,000 people in attendance, 7500 viewers online, and this was the largest parade in over 20 years with 3800 participants. From humanitarian organisations to dance groups and sports clubs, the incredible breadth of our sector's work was on full display in the parade!

And, to top it all of We Act won the overall parade award! Thank you to all the groups marching under the We Act banner, and the countless other charities and community groups at the heart of the parade.

On International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a group at Cork Migrant Centre gets together to discuss the urgency of combatting racism and how to create a more inclusive society in Ireland.

March 21st is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and focuses on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination in around the world. In Ireland, charities and community groups came together to and posted their support using the hashtag #TogetherAgainstRacism. Check out the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) to learn how you can take action.

March is Women's History month and we’re celebrating women who are taking action in Ireland. In this edition of the Good News Gazette we hear from Abi, a project manager at VOICE Ireland where she works on community-based climate action campaigns and projects. This is her story... 

“I always knew that I would work in the environmental field. It was something I was always passionate about growing up and I'm really, really lucky to be able to have that as my full-time job.  

As a Project Manager at VOICE, I’ve worked on a number of different campaigns and projects. I work with communities to put together local plans to implement initiatives tackling climate change. Currently, I'm working on two different projects. I lead No Plastic. Period. which is a campaign focused on raising awareness of reusable menstrual items. The other project is the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme where we've set up the first incentive scheme in this country to help support new parents transition into using cloth nappies instead of disposables. 

I'm interested in these projects because obviously I’m interested in taking action for climate change but I’m really passionate about linking climate change with women's experiences and taking an intersectional approach."

Abi O'Callaghan Platt sets up a No Plastic. Period. stand at a secondary school prior to one of her workshops.

"A few years ago, we conducted some research into daily plastic use and we found a massive amount of people were using disposable rather than reusable menstrual items. That research put me on this path and soon I was seeking funding. I really am so passionate about it. I feel that for most it's a really, really easy switch and that once a person makes that change it just becomes normalised.  

It's a great program and I love it. I think it will make change bit by bit because you know that's how that's how it begins. The project also helps to tackle period poverty and breaks down stigma. So, we’re fighting plastic pollution and we’re also covering other issues women face day to day.  

At the end of a school session for No Plastic. Period, I’ll hand out slips of paper for people to write feedback or any questions they have anonymously. Many of them come back with tons of feedback, all kinds of interesting questions, and even lovely drawings of flowers with ‘thank you’ written all of it. So, even in the classes where nobody says a word I can see positive change is taking place. 

As for the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme, prior to its launch in October of 2022 we found that a baby uses about 4,500 nappies before they’re potty trained, but that’s just the average. It causes waste, but it also increases the cost of parenthood. We want this scheme to provide an alternative for new parents. And we’ve seen such great reception."

Abi smiles while wearing campaign badges.

"When people make these switches, and start these conversations they’re taking action for the climate and they’re taking action for women.  

In the environmental space, every small victory matters. So, if we can encourage people to make a change now, that could be a lifelong change which will have massive environmental impacts. Really I just think I’m lucky to do a job that I'm really passionate about and I feel makes a difference and will make a difference going forward."

You can learn more about VOICE Ireland's campaigns and ways you can get involved by visiting their website here.

We Act is a national, collaborative campaign to celebrate the value and impact of the charities and community groups in Ireland. It is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. 

Got a story? Email madeline@wheel.ie

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