SOME immigrants were among the community volunteers honoured in a ceremony at Dublin’s Mansion House last week.
The Lord Mayor’s Unsung Heroes initiative, which was held to coincide with Dublin City Volunteer Week, celebrated over 600 people who contribute to voluntary organisations in their communities, or who have simply been good neighbours to those in their area.
The attendees were presented with a lapel pin – to raise awareness of the need for volunteers in the community – and a Certificate of Recognition signed by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Vincent Jackson.
One of the recipients was Baya Merad from Algeria, who told Metro Eireann she had been involved in hospice work and Special Olympics volunteerism, and was involved in a health awareness week at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, south Dublin.
A qualified GP in her own country, she arrived in Ireland five years ago with little English, but has improved considerably. She said she hopes to pass the English language test required to practice medicine in the near future.
“If you feel someone needs your help, you should do it, regardless of their religion – we are all brothers and sisters,” she said. “Because I am a Muslim I should help everyone, not only Muslims.”
Another non-Irish community worker honoured was Nigerian woman Yemisi Ojo, who founded the group Integration of African Children in Ireland four years ago. She praised the Lord Mayor for his encouraging speech, but noted that much more work is needed in the area of integration.
Ojo said there needs to be more awareness about the rights of minorities to volunteer, and that Dublin City Council must take a more proactive stance on the inclusion of minorities in all aspects of Dublin life. She added that she noticed no other visible minorities at the event aside from her own group.
Speaking at the event, Dublin’s Lord Mayor Cllr Jackson expressed the hope that the next Government would invest heavily in the infrastructure necessary to encourage voluntary activity among all.
“We need to remember that this city is held together and given life and vitality not by its buildings, its economy, or its streetscape but by its people,” he said. “I am delighted to be recognising and honouring the accomplishments of the 600 individuals here tonight for their dedicated and outstanding service to the citizens of Dublin. The commitment, care and generosity they display in their every day lives to a wide range of people is an inspiration to us all.”
According to the organisers, the uniqueness of the event is that “there are no winners, simply recognition of achievement”.
