We are thrilled to share that the new international garden created by Cork Migrant Centre, Nano Nagle Place has secured new funding as part of the SEFIT Challenge Fund, a groundbreaking initiative designed to foster equitable and inclusive solutions for a green and digital future managed by Rethink Ireland.
The SEFIT (Social Ecosystems for Fair and Inclusive Transitions) pilot project, co-funded by the European Union, brings together local authorities, social innovators, and communities from Cork and Turin, Italy. This initiative aims to break down barriers and support a just transition in our cities.
Watch this short video prepared by Cork Local Enterprise Centre introducing Dr. Naomi Masheti, the Programme Coordinator for the Cork Migrant Centre located at Nano Nagle Place.
Dr. Masheti plays a pivotal role in supporting migrants through initiatives such as the growing of food that migrants celebrate in their cultures in the Centre’s gardens.
Dr Masheti emphasizes the profound impact of these activities, highlighting how they enable migrants to thrive in Cork by fostering community connections, enhancing their language skills, and providing a sense of belonging in their new environment. Through her work, Dr. Masheti is dedicated to empowering migrants to expand their social networks and fully integrate into their local community. Earlier this year Dr Masheti was awarded the Lord Mayors Community and Voluntary Award for her contribution to the city’s unique generosity of spirit.
On the 21st of August 2024, Cork City Lord Mayor Councillor Dan Boyle joined representatives from Cork Migrant Centre and Nano Nagle Place at the Old Cork Waterworks to celebrate the awardees of this year’s SEFIT Challenge Fund.
John Smith, CEO of Nano Nagle Place highlighted the importance of grant funding for local social justice initiatives “These innovative projects are set to make a significant impact in Cork, advancing social inclusion and environmental sustainability. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Niall O’Keeffe, Cork City Council, and the Local Enterprise Office, Cork City for their support in making this possible.”
Discover the hidden gem of Cork at Nano Nagle Place, a vibrant heritage site that offers a unique glimpse into Irish history and culture. Nestled in the heart of Cork City, this beautifully restored complex features a museum dedicated to the inspiring legacy of Nano Nagle, a social justice pioneer. Visitors can explore historic buildings, tranquil walled gardens, and a charming design shop filled with local crafts. Whether you’re looking for educational tours, a peaceful retreat, or a taste of Cork’s rich heritage, Nano Nagle Place provides an unforgettable experience for all ages. Don’t miss this top Cork attraction and delve into the city’s fascinating past while enjoying a modern cultural oasis.
Nano Nagle Place is proud to celebrate the completion of a remarkable new mural at Turner’s Cross stadium—a vibrant representation of inclusivity, community, and belonging.
This mural, created by the youth-led movement Sauti (meaning “voice” in Swahili), emerged from a collaboration between Cork Migrant Centre at Nano Nagle Place and funding provided by Cork City Council. The young artists drew on their diverse experiences and a shared passion for combating social injustices through creative expression. Sauti’s members have long used music, poetry, visual arts, and other mediums to voice the challenges they face and their hope for a more inclusive world.
The new Turner’s Cross mural highlights a selection of Cork City’s beloved symbols, including the iconic Echo Boy, whose familiar chant resonates through the city. More than just a homage to Cork’s landmarks, the mural boldly asserts the presence and belonging of the young people within the community. The inclusion of their images within the artwork sends a clear message: “We are here, and we belong.”
Through facilitated workshops hosted by the Creativity and Change initiative, the young artists explored what makes Cork City unique while discussing themes of identity, diversity, and inclusion. Their creativity and courage are reflected in the mural, which stands as a visual representation of empowerment and their place within the community.
This transformative project was made possible thanks to funding from the Community Recognition Fund, locally known as the ‘City of Welcomes Fund.’ This initiative, managed by Cork City Council, secured financial support from the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) for a range of citywide projects.
Supported by Cork City Council through the Community Recognition Fund, this project is a testament to the power of creativity in fostering social change. The mural is a bold reminder that local actions in Cork can have a lasting impact, promoting values of inclusivity and community building.
As we continue our work at Nano Nagle Place, a site dedicated to heritage, social justice, and community engagement, we are inspired by Sauti’s commitment to inclusivity and the resilience of these young artists.
We invite you to visit Cork City FC /Munster Football Association Turner’s Cross stadium and experience this powerful mural for yourself. Read more in a recent article in the Evening Echo
Discover the hidden gem of Cork at Nano Nagle Place, a vibrant heritage site that offers a unique glimpse into Irish history and culture. Nestled in the heart of Cork City, this beautifully restored complex features a museum dedicated to the inspiring legacy of Nano Nagle, a social justice pioneer. Visitors can explore historic buildings, tranquil walled gardens, and a charming design shop filled with local crafts. Whether you’re looking for educational tours, a peaceful retreat, or a taste of Cork’s rich heritage, Nano Nagle Place provides an unforgettable experience for all ages. Don’t miss this top Cork attraction and delve into the city’s fascinating past while enjoying a modern cultural oasis.
Youth-Led Anti Racist Summit 17th May 1pm to 5pm Cork City Millennium Hall
Cork City will host the second annual youth-led anti-racism summit, positioning itself at the forefront of key regional and international developments. Building on last year’s success, the Cork Migrant Centre Youth Initiative Against Racism laid the foundation for this year’s Youth Led Anti-Racism Summit: participants, performers, and policymakers, united to address racism in personal and professional spheres. The summit, to be launched by Cork Lord Mayor, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, and hosted by Cork City Council, continues this important work.
This pioneering event is created by young people with the support of the Cork Children and Young Peoples’ Committee, an interagency joint planning committee, working to improve outcomes for all children and young people in Cork and proudly supported by Nano Nagle Place.
The summit will feature keynote speakers from various sectors of the community, with a focus on educational impacts on young people. This includes spotlighting teachers from Millstreet Community School and Sacred Heart Secondary School Clonakilty, celebrating their significant contributions as highlighted by their students. Jannett Walker from the UK, CEO of Anti Racist Cumbria, will discuss her organisation’s successes and anti-racist efforts, offering insights on how similar strategies might be implemented here in Ireland. Additionally, Deirdre Horgan, Professor of Education at UCC, will address the importance of active listening to young people and discuss the Lundy model of participation.
One of the lead organisers, Leen Maarouf, a Palestinian woman and anti-racist development worker at Cork Migrant Centre in Nano Nagle Place says
“This summit empowers youth to confront systemic racism in Ireland. It will focus on the pressing issues of the Direct Provision system that significantly affect young refugees, migrants, and minority communities, including Travellers and LGBTQ+ individuals. Recent incidents of discrimination, and the shortfall in public investments in these communities, underline the necessity for this event. We hope this summit will provide ‘a brave space’ that offers radical possibilities for young people to shift power dynamics and express themselves creatively.”
The Cork Migrant Centre at Nano Nagle Place, with a strengths-based and Human Rights perspective, has taken a radical approach to collaboration. They have brought together a diverse group of marginalised young people, including migrants, Travellers, Roma youth, and LGBTQI+ youth. Their aim is to advocate for transformative justice, in alliance with like-minded individuals and organisations in Cork and beyond, to make Cork an anti-racist county. Supported by their youth mentors, they have created, and will perform, a series of creative performances, including spoken word, drama, and dance. Through these mediums, they will share their stories and experiences of racism and inequality, providing the audience with a rare opportunity to truly hear the voices of diverse young people, their strengths and struggles.
Raphael Olympio, a lead Youth Mentor and Co-ordinator at Cork Migrant Centre, Nano Nagle Place says
“Over the past few years and months, I have had the privilege of working closely with young people. Their stories, insights, and strategies to combat racism have been truly eye-opening and encouraging. Their resilience in the face of adversity and unwavering determination to create a more inclusive society are constant sources of inspiration. The future looks better, especially if the people of Cork get on board with this initiative.”
As Cork hosts this significant youth-led summit, it not only addresses pressing issues of racism and discrimination but also showcases the active steps being taken towards a more inclusive and equitable society. The engagement and advocacy of young people at this summit pave the way for a future where diversity is not just accepted, but celebrated. This event stands as a testament to ongoing efforts and the potential for transformative change, ensuring that the voices of youth are central in shaping the policies and practices that will define tomorrow’s Ireland and beyond.
Who will be there:
Service Providers, Policy makers and Politicians will be in attendance including Representative from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, Tusla, An Garda Siochana, Youth and Community organisations, including YMCA, CDYS, UCC, MTU, Schools, National Association for Principals and Deputy Principles and the Irish Primary Principals Network.
Supporters
This youth led summit is supported by:
Youth Initiative against Racism and Children
Young Peoples Services Committee (CYPSC) – Antiracism toolkit in process
Nano Nagle Place Celebrates Member of Staff’s Recognition by the Lord Mayor of Cork
Cork, Monday, 8th April – Nano Nagle Place is delighted to announce the recognition of Cork Migrant Centre’s Programme Coordinator, Dr Naomi Masheti, as the esteemed recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Community and Voluntary Award in 2024.
Dr Masheti will be recognised, and awarded, on the night of Wednesday 10th April, in Cork City Hall as part of the Lord Mayor’s Civic Awards Ceremony. Dr Masheti will be presented with her award in recognition by Cork City Council for her contribution to the city’s unique generosity of spirit.
Currently a Psychosocial Practitioner at Cork Migrant Centre and a guest lecturer at the School of Psychology, University College Cork, Dr Masheti is an accomplished scholar and a three-time graduate of UCC. She is also the recipient of the UCC 2020 Athena SWAN Equality Award.
CEO of Nano Nagle Place, John Smith, has this to say about Dr Masheti’s recognition,
“on behalf of all of us here at Nano Nagle Place I would like to congratulate Dr Naomi Masheti on this fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of her work and contribution to social justice. Naomi is a valued colleague and is a pioneer for a progressive and empowerment driven approach to supporting those who are in need of support. We are immensely proud of Naomi.”
This year marks the 21st edition of the Lord Mayor’s Community Voluntary Awards. More than 600 organisations regularly engage in the community and voluntary sectors, creating a collective togetherness and caring solidarity that defines the spirit of Cork City.
Cllr Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor, offers the following praise
“Cork is a city that values its people, a city that promotes culture, heritage, learning, health & wellbeing. We are a city of engaged neighbourhoods and communities but above all, a city of welcomes. These awards celebrate that welcome and inclusiveness in a myriad of ways.”
Op-Ed by Sylvia Wohlfarth-Bottermann, Anti-Racism Development Worker with Cork Migrant Centre
I choose not to write about the increase in racism. Instead, I want to explore whether white people can imagine what it is like to suffer racism, and if so, decide on what they can do about it.
Racism is for example, when you notice the cashier placing the change into the hand of the white woman in front of you but gesturing with a nod of her head for you to place the change on the counter before she picks it up.
Or a child observing the disrespectful way their mother is treated in the shop because she is wearing a headscarf, or her English is not good enough.
Or on offering an elderly lady a seat next to you on the bus, she looks at you with disdain and says, “I don’t sit next to people like you.”
Or when the teacher introduces the theme of the Trans-Atlantic Slavery and asks you because you come from Nigeria if you would like to contribute something to the subject and all the students turn around and stare at you.
Or being told by your college friend that when she has children she wants to live in a Black free zone like when she was a child… but you shouldn’t take that personally. You smile and hide your pain.
I do not want you to feel anger and shame and tell me you are not a racist, because this is not about you and your feelings. It is about listening, acknowledging, and showing empathy, not sympathy, for those who are racially abused, and act accordingly.
Racism is not only acts of overt, conscious, and intentional hate by individuals who believe their race and skin colour are superior. Racism manifests in the form of subtle racial micro-aggressions and unconscious bias that Black and Brown people of all ages face every day, and which have a profound impact on their lives and mental health.
Racism can take place without a Black or brown person being present.
If you genuinely and actively want to join in the fight against racism, you must recognize and acknowledge your own biases (conscious or non-conscious) and micro-aggressive behaviour towards Black and Brown people.
Working with the Cork Migrant Centre, I have had the privilege to watch something amazing develop and flourish. Inspired by the 2022 Anti-Racist Summit in Cumbria, England, we decided to bring the idea back home to Cork and carried out the first Youth-Led Anti-Racist Summit in 2023. A campaign, driven by our young people, to actively and sustainably, make Cork the first anti-racist City and county in Ireland, in collaboration with CYPSC and many organisations in Cork and county who supported CMC’s Youth Initiative Against Racism.
Let us stamp out the fire of racism and fan the embers of the campaign to make Cork an anti-racist city and county.
It was a great success and the flame to achieve an anti-racist community like the Olympic torch was lit and has been cemented in the soul of Cork, burning even brighter since our 2nd Youth-Led Anti-Racist Summit held on 17th May 2024.
The campaign focus is the youth, as the carriers of change, as well as on education, the system where change must take place if racism and intolerance is to be challenged and eradicated, top down and bottom up.
Significantly, the Cork Migrant Centre is part of Nano Nagle Place where, in 1775, Nano Nagle founded the Presentation Sisters Order as part of her pioneering work to meet the needs of those “left behind” by establishing schools, especially for girls. Nano, a true activist, and campaigner for the poor, left us with her motto: ‘Not Words but Deeds.’
Our Youth, if cherished and nurtured, are our only way forward in the struggle towards a racist-free society. Our young people are the future stewards of a socially-just and climate friendly world, we must support them in every way we can.
As Janett Walker, CEO and co-founder of Anti-Racist Cumbria tells us, it is not enough to simply listen to the youth, but more importantly to hear what they say and put what they say into action while creating the safe space to spark that conversation. A focus of the Youth led Anti-Racism Summits in Cork, as is nurturing empathic connections.
In the words of the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who was aware of the power of empathy, ‘Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.’
Dealing with the topic of racism is painful, but once you accept and acknowledge that it is a system of which you are part, it is liberating and nothing compared to the pain and suffering many Black and Brown face in their daily lives.
Let us stamp out the fire of racism and fan the embers of the campaign to make Cork an anti-racist city and county.
Op-Ed by Cork Migrant Centre Youth Mentors and 2024 Anti-Racism Summit Organisers, Leen Maarouf and Raphael Olympia
Cork City proudly hosted the second annual youth-led anti-racism summit, positioning itself at the forefront of key regional and international developments. This pivotal event unfolded against a backdrop of profound socio-political shifts worldwide, including the rise of far-right anti-immigration sentiments, global humanitarian crises, and ongoing genocides.
Just two weeks before, the dynamics of these global issues were mirrored locally when Cork witnessed an anti-immigration march at the GPO on O’Connell Street. Here, counter-protesters gathered under banners proclaiming, “Unite against racism. Refugees welcome.” The summit also came at a time of heightened local tensions, spurred by recent protests against the decision not to prosecute the Garda officer who fatally shot George Nkencho, a young Black man in Dublin. With elections looming, the summit became an indispensable forum for discussing accountability, racism, integration, and enhancing social unity.
The urgency of these discussions was further underscored by humanitarian catastrophes and the perpetration of war crimes in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Palestine. The latter spurred many protests across Ireland, highlighting the dire need for dialogue on human rights, fighting institutional neutrality, and addressing grave violations affecting millions, especially children.
Inspired by movements like Black Lives Matter, the regional summit empowered youth to confront systemic racism in Ireland, focusing on the pressing issues of the Direct Provision system that significantly affected young refugees, migrants, and minority communities, including Travellers and LGBTQ+ individuals. Recent incidents of discrimination and the shortfall in public investments in these communities underlined the necessity for a platform like this summit—a ‘brave space’ that offered radical possibilities for young people to shift power dynamics and express themselves creatively.
In a resource that IRC and ARD Youth Projects members (2023) collaborated on, young people discussed how often individuals must undertake perilous journeys to safer environments, journeys fraught with ‘Tight Spaces’—packing belongings into a bag, a boat, a lorry, or even a sleeping bag. “Upon arrival in Direct Provision, unfortunately, they may have found themselves in cramped living conditions,” reflecting the systemic injustices and mental anguish embedded within this system, shrinking individual worlds, opportunities and reducing horizons (IRC and NYCI, 2023).
In a resource that IRC and ARD Youth Projects members (2023) collaborated on, young people discussed how often individuals must undertake perilous journeys to safer environments, journeys fraught with ‘Tight Spaces’—packing belongings into a bag, a boat, a lorry, or even a sleeping bag. “Upon arrival in Direct Provision, unfortunately, they may have found themselves in cramped living conditions,” reflecting the systemic injustices and mental anguish embedded within this system, shrinking individual worlds, opportunities and reducing horizons (IRC and NYCI, 2023).
That said, local initiatives in Cork shone as beacons of hope. The city council’s endorsement of the Yellow flag program, led by the Irish Traveller Movement, significantly enhanced inclusive educational environments across numerous schools.
In a resource that IRC and ARD Youth Projects members (2023) collaborated on, young people discussed how often individuals must undertake perilous journeys to safer environments, journeys fraught with ‘Tight Spaces’—packing belongings into a bag, a boat, a lorry, or even a sleeping bag. “Upon arrival in Direct Provision, unfortunately, they may have found themselves in cramped living conditions,” reflecting the systemic injustices and mental anguish embedded within this system, shrinking individual worlds, opportunities and reducing horizons (IRC and NYCI, 2023).
That said, local initiatives in Cork shone as beacons of hope. The city council’s endorsement of the Yellow flag program, led by the Irish Traveller Movement, significantly enhanced inclusive educational environments across numerous schools.
The Sanctuary Runners initiative, originating in Cork, promoted intercultural understanding and solidarity, gaining national and international recognition. Furthermore, the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), implemented by the Cork City Partnership, targeted racism and supported Traveller and Roma development, bolstered by a network of community groups dedicated to migrant integration.
Cork hosted this significant youth-led summit, which not only addressed pressing issues of racism and discrimination but also showcased the active steps being taken towards a more inclusive and equitable society. The engagement and advocacy of young people at this summit paved the way for a future where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated. This event stood as a testament to ongoing efforts and the potential for transformative change, ensuring that youth voices were central in shaping the policies and practices that would define tomorrow’s Ireland and beyond.
The central theme of this year’s summit was “It’s about the youth, not you,” which prompted the Pledge activity. The pledge was ‘to make Cork an inclusive anti-racist city.’ Community members and policymakers at facilitated and moderated tables were invited to engage in discussion and commit to personal and professional actions that promoted anti-racism and inclusivity. These commitments were made as individual pledges in daily life or as part of an organisation.
There was also a commitment to revisiting these signed pledges in six months’ time, as they would be made visible and publicised. This call to action, with personal and collective commitment to creating an Anti-racist Cork, brought clarity and conviction to the event. This was an opportunity to foster Intergenerational Dialogue and encourage understanding of issues of racism and inclusion. It was also an opportunity to really consider the commitments individuals could make in their personal and professional lives to foster an inclusive environment and to ignite the conviction to action these.
The summit concluded with the recognition of the young people who took the lead and actively made changes in their community. They invited teachers actively working to implement anti-racism strategies in their schools, with the aim of including more educators in the discussion. They also learned that they need to ask other leaders and TDs to be present in the room for future summits. They hope to continue demonstrating effective strategies to make Cork a safer space for all. In doing so, they hope to continue to invite and acknowledge individuals and communities who have been actively doing anti-racist work in their organisations, schools and more. Overall, they felt that they were heard and wanted to continue addressing the challenges, with some stating that it needed to be done at least twice a year instead of once a year.