Good News Gazette, Issue #2 | March 2022 Walking, running, swimming and shopping our way through Spring |
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Students from Corracrin National School rocking #LotsOfSocks for Down Syndrome Ireland on World Down Syndrome Day |
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Hello, and welcome to the March issue of the We Act Good News Gazette. We Act is a campaign to celebrate Ireland's charities and community groups - highlighting the organisations and individuals making the world a better place. Which is why, each month, we deliver a joyful digest of their work, directly to your inbox. Over the last few weeks, our communities have, once again, been thrust into response mode. Each one of us is looking around us and asking, 'How can I help?'. And as heartbreaking as it's been to watch the news as the war in Ukraine unfolds, every one of us can be heartened by the small and mammoth acts of kindness happening around the country to help; the mothers donating baby equipment to families arriving in Ireland, the cat cafe collecting items for the pets of refugees, the people pledging to open their homes. From each and every person who's donated a euro, or ten, or twenty, to organisations providing humanitarian aid on the ground, to those aid workers in Ukraine and along its border, who are away from home or facing danger to deliver vital aid. While there are too many individual efforts to name, there are chinks of light in the stories of those stepping in and taking action. Which after all, is what this campaign is all about. Seeing a need. Spotting a gap. And taking action. We could all do with a heavy helping of positivity this month, so put your feet up, and enjoy the We Act Good News Gazette... |
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The Magic of Reading To celebrate its 25th birthday, World Book Day teamed up with Children’s Books Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge and An Post to gift 14,000 books directly to children who would not be able to access their book tokens. Thousands of children experiencing homelessness, living in direct provision, children in hospitals, healthcare situations, and Traveller communities received a book of their own, with the message, "You are a reader". |
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Ace Jack Tipperary primary school pupil and all-round legend, Jack Joyce has walked 9,000 steps a day, to raise funds for cancer research in honour of his late mum, Audrey. The Irish Cancer Society’s Steps Challenge called on people to take 9,000 steps each day in March for Daffodil Day, to commemorate the 9,000 lives lost to cancer each year. Jack's dad, Dermot said, "I can’t put into words how proud I am of Jack... he really is my little hero.” |
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Sanctuary Runners have running groups around the country to enable Irish residents to run alongside, and in solidarity with, asylum seekers and refugees in Direct Provision. Paul Blake Knox is a Dublin-based runner... |
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“I’d never met anyone in Direct Provision before and I was never likely to. I live in middle class Dublin 14, I’m 68 and here I am meeting all these new, lovely, inspiring people, both runners from the immigrant community and the Irish runners too. I’ve always been involved in different things. I did hockey coaching, I took part in a Cycle Against Suicide, I’d done park runs for the Simon Community, and I was a ‘befriender’ with Sparasi - they work with immigrants who have suffered from torture. It was through that, that I came across the Sanctuary Runners on Twitter. They run with people in Direct Provision and I thought it was a lovely idea. It tied in for me as I had just retired. They were so welcoming. I went along to Poolbeg Park in Sandymount one week, they gave me a tshirt, and that was it - I was a Sanctuary Runner. |
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The runners were based in the Direct Provision Centre in Hatch Street, then they all got a letter to say that it was closing, and they were all moved out to Balseskin almost overnight. The nearest park run for there is Poppintree Park in Ballymun. So it was either I stay in Sandymount running on my own or I go out to Poppintree. There was no question, now I drive across the city every Saturday. There might be 25 or 30 people each week. People who live locally bring cakes, biscuits and tea and coffee, and at the end of the run, they lay out a beautiful big mat and we all get together and chat. |
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There were fallacies I’d have had around immigrants, but they’re so far from the truth. When you’re running with someone over time, you talk to each other, and they’ll say, all they want to do is work and give their children a good education. It’s opened my mind. When you think about the history of Ireland, people were forced to leave, we went to England, America, Australia. Leaving for desperate reasons, just wanting to improve their lives. These people are in the exact same boat. There are groups of Sanctuary Runners all over the country - if you’re thinking about joining, do it immediately - you’ll be nothing but welcomed." |
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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 Community Foundation for Ireland RTÉ Does Comic Relief Fund and the Department of Rural and Community Development. Got a story? Email info@WeAct.ie |
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