The MAMA Awards – which honour individuals, groups, companies and journalists who promote cross-cultural understanding – are making a much anticipated return this year. Members of the public are being urged to visit MAMAawards.com and nominate entrants for this year’s awards programme.
First staged in 2002, the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (MA-MA) were established by Ireland’s first multicultural newspaper, Metro Éireann, and the 2011 showing is proudly sponsored by An Post, Dublin City Council Office for Integration, Foras na Gaeilge, The Irish Times and MK Design Studio.
Speaking shortly before the awards launch this week, Gerry Folan, head of integration at Dublin City Council, said: “Integration is a long-term process and it is important for the city that we acknowledge the diversity of our population and the contribution which immigrant communities continue to make to the social, political, economic and cultur-ral life of the city.”
An Post’s director of communications and corporate affairs Barney Whelan added: “This award scheme illustrates the best examples of cross-cultural understanding and co-operation. We can all learn from those who have excelled, but also from those who do really good work.
“We can learn from the successes and the failures, the moments of brilliance and by just seeing how ordinary people doing ordinary things can make a real difference.”
Awards will be presented in two main categories, Multicul-tural and Media, and applications are invited from the voluntary, state and private sectors, as well as from print, broadcast, visual, online and student media.
There will also be a Foras na Gaeilge award for an individual or organisation promoting the Irish language and culture among new immigrants, and a Special Judges’ Award.
The latter is not open to public nomination.
“For several years now, the MAMA awards have helped to reflect Ireland’s diversity which continues to grow,” said Metro Éireann editor and awards founder Chinedu Onyejelem.
“By recognising and celebrating the unsung heroes who are creating and promoting cross-cultural understanding and co-operation in Ireland, the awards highlight the hidden advantages which difference brings.”
He continued: “We believe that the initiative has never been more important than this time when we are faced with strong economic challenges.
“We are particularly delighted that the MAMA Awards are returning this year. We are grateful to An Post, Dublin City Council, Foras na Gaeilge and The Irish Times for their support.”
The deadline for receipt of entries is Friday 20 May. Applications will be assessed by a panel of well-known equality, integration and HR experts drawn from different areas.
Shortlisted entries in each category will be announced at the end of May, with the awards ceremony taking place in June 2011.
Details on the award categories and an entry form are available on pages 12 and 13 of this newspaper.
For further information contact the MAMA Awards co-ordinator at 01 878 3223 or mama@metroeireann.com, or visit MAMAawards.com.
