Volunteering with JRS

JRS Ireland’s Community Links Project

“ I am a teacher by profession. Being in a classroom is where I am in control and most at ease.” A month ago, I would have been content to make the above statement – not any more. A voluntary placement for six weeks, is what has changed my perspective – for life.

I came to Ireland on the 19th January 2004, to work as a volunteer with Community Links, a project of JRS Ireland. For some time, I have felt drawn to experience the uncertainty and insecurity of displaced people like refugees, asylum seekers, migrant workers etc.

It seems appropriate to mention here that the most important “linking” for me took place within our team – Irish ( Ann Horgan, Frank Sammon SJ and Nadette Foley) Kurdish ( Zhyan Sharif) and Indian (myself). Each of us contributed to the team something of our own culture and personal experience which in turn enriched our contribution to the community at large. The project’s vision of an Ireland where all who come as strangers to our shores are made to feel welcome and at home was my own experience from day one with Community Links. I was won over by the sincerity and commitment of the organisation to promote and further integration between Irish nationals and those of the new community.

Knowing that six weeks is indeed a short period, the team did all they could to involve me in the project and to introduce me to voluntary organisations also engaged in community development. At the Integrating Ireland Forum in Athlone, I met immigrants from different communities and a number of NGOs from outside Dublin. I was deeply touched by my interaction with individuals from the refugee community particularly their concern regarding the deportation of parents of Irish born children. I did all I could to promote the signature campaign by taking copies of the petition letter to the schools close to St Stephen’s Green, where I live and when I was present at a meeting of the Friends of Calcutta in Ireland.

I am also involved in Inter Faith Dialogue in India so I was thrilled to see the very attractive and informative Inter-Cultural Calendar produced by Access Ireland. Community Links promoted the sale of these calendars and it gave me great pleasure to be part of this endeavour.

The next seminar I attended was a Training Session organised by Access Ireland and Join Equality through a Collaborative Approach – against all forms of discrimination. Once again, I met representatives from different organisations and ethnic minority groups. I was particularly happy with the Workshop on Religion as it was facilitated by the Islamic Cultural Centre and we were to visit the mosque at Clonskeagh a week later along with a group connected with Community Links.

As my time with Community Links progressed, I was even more convinced of the need to promote and further integration. It gave me great satisfaction therefore to speak to groups at Dublin Adult Learning Centre regarding the initiative of Community Links to set up a Women’s Integration Group.

My skills and talents were put to good use by the team. I helped to put together a colourful display of the work of Community Links at a reception hosted by John Dardis SJ, the JRS Europe Regional Director, at University Hall on the 12th of February. I also assisted in bringing the data-base up to date and with other clerical tasks.

This voluntary placement did more for me as a person than I contributed to it. I remain committed to the work of integration where ever I am particularly when I am back in my multi-cultural country, India.

Marilla D'Souza IBVM

Registered Charity No: 230165	Jesuit Refugee Service - UK