Study visits to the Netherlands and Ireland

May 2006

Within the framework of the renewed Politeia Network for Citizenship and Democracy in Europe, the IPP organises an exchange programme with partner organisations from Ireland, Romania and Slovenia. During four study visits and a concluding seminar, representatives of the participating organisations exchange knowledge and methods for involving underrepresented groups in politics and society.

Kick-off

In April 2006, the first study visit took place in the Netherlands. The partner organisations from Ireland, TASC (a think tank for action on social change) and the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice), Romania ( Asociatia Pro Democratia) and Slovenia ( Youth Centre of Dravinja Valley) were each represented by two employees during a five-day visit to Amsterdam and surroundings. During this visit, projects and methods were highlighted that focus on the involvement of underrepresented groups like youngsters, women and migrants in politics and society.

Youngsters

Regarding the focus group ‘youngsters’, the successful projects of IPP ‘Find your way in local government’ and the ‘mock elections for secondary school pupils’ were presented and discussed. Besides that, the participants visited the Amsterdam district ‘De Baarsjes’, where the ambulant youth work was being looked at in more detail.

Women

The focus group ‘women’ was at stake during a presentation on the work of the IPP in Turkey and Slovakia, where projects to stimulate the participation of women in politics were implemented in recent years. Furthermore, the project ‘Ambassadors Network Boards’ was illustrated. In this project, prominent people who are active in politics, business and society put energy into the stimulation of the participation of women in boards.

Migrants

At the end of the week, the participation of migrants in society and politics was being looked at, and it was illustrated how the IPP is and was active in this field. The participants visited the ‘Helpdesk Migrants’ in the city of Zaandam, where migrant women can go for advice and support with regard to the participation in society.

Irish hosts

Following the very successful first study visit to Amsterdam hosted by the IPP, the second visit of European Exchange of Good Practices in the field of Participation and Citizenship of Underrepresented Group was held in Dublin in May 2006. This visit was co-hosted by TASC (a think tank for Action on Social Change) in partnership with the VPSJ (Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice). TASC was established in 2001 and is committed to progressive social change in Ireland. The Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ) was established in 1996 and works for social and economic change by tackling poverty and exclusion.

Key focus of the visit

The focus of the Irish visit was Participation by Underrepresented Groups and participatory Democracy. TASC and the VPSJ designed a programme for the week that reflected the work of both organisations aimed at encouraging debate and discussion with participation from the other three countries involved in the partnership.

Presentations

The group received presentations from and had the opportunity to discuss with community leaders, youth representatives and academics working on Democracy in Ireland today. They also had the opportunity to meet and interact with people involved in political life at senior level along with community workers and groups directly involved in promoting good democratic principles and practices at national, local level and community level.

Active citizens

A very important part of the programme was a meeting with two community groups. The visitors had the chance to meet and speak with groups who had gone through the Active Citizenship Programme with Dr. Bernadette. They shared their experiences with the group and told of the benefits of the Active Citizenship programme and how it had made a difference to their lives at local community level.

Inspiration

It was very inspiring for the visitors to see how local groups can pull together and work for their own community. We hope all who participated enjoyed the experience and left with a little more knowledge about Ireland and in particular got a better understanding about how participation can work from the bottom up.

Culture

A number of cultural activities were planned as part of this visit, to give a flavour of the rich cultural heritage of Ireland. A cultural highlight, was a tour of the Ned Kelly exhibition (Ned Kelly is a famous Australian Outlaw; this is the first time this exhibition was held outside of Australia). The group were fortunate to have one of Australia’s leading Kelly historian tell the story of Irish emigration, Australian Republicanism and modern day Australia’s reaction to the Kelly Gang legend. She explained the importance of the Jerilderie Letter, Kelly’s impassioned record of events. She also gave a background to the story of the environmental, political, legal, and social characteristics that created Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang. This was followed with an evening meal in the James Joyce House of The Dead (where Joyce’s novel The Dead was based).

Future

The four partner organisations continue their exchange after the summer of 2006 with visits to Romania (September) and Slovenia (October-November). With this exchange programme, the IPP hopes to contribute to the development of knowledge of all partner organisations in the field of participation and citizenship of underrepresented groups. The participating organisations will develop a clearer picture of the situation and practices in the various countries and will be able to implement the experiences in their own country. In the end, the IPP hopes to constitute a structural partnership with the organisations that participate in this programme, with the purpose to set up possible future joint projects. For more information, contact Judith Baltus of the IPP at j.baltus@publiek-politiek.nl or +31 20 521 7656.

Judith Baltus, Instituut voor Publiek en Politiek, Amsterdam

Phill McCaughey, TASC, Dublin