Intercultural Diversity

1

• Intercultural Diversity
• Update from working group.

2
Volt Conference 2004,Diversity workshop

• That lack of understanding of other cultures and
  language are the major barriers in communication
• There is a lack of available training in the area
  of intercultural awareness
• There is a need for cultural sensitivity and
  discussion around the asylum seeking process

3
Working group set up to explore

• The development of volunteering information packs
  for asylum seekers and others with additional
  needs
• The development of information packs for
  volunteer-involving organisations covering issues
  to be aware of and sensitive to
• The provision of intercultural awareness training
  to volunteer coordinators

4
Members

• Nancy Nunez Volunteering Ireland
• Lorna Melody Volunteering Ireland
• Sara Bennett - Amnesty International
• Muireann McGarry Cheshire Ireland.
• Winnie Maye Order of Malta
• Angela Walsh Barnardos

5
2 Questionairres

• 1Volunteer organisations
• 2.Volunteers from non national groups.
• Contacted organisations working
  with/representing non nationals for feedback.

6
Volunteer organisations

• Want more cultural diversity.
• Lack of knowledge of other cultures.
• Practical considerations. Recruitment/language/com
  munication/
• expectations.

7
Volunteers

• Information about volunteer opportunities in
  Ireland.
• Knowledge of the process.
• Expectations.
• Communication.

8
Whats happening now

• Resource for Volunteer Involving
  organisationDraft stage. Proofing with different
  groups.
• Profile of different countries, different ethnic
  groups, language, religion, customs and what
  volunteering means in that country, reasons why
  people in that country may be volunteering in
  Ireland.
• Will also give information on the asylum
  seekers, refugee, immigrants.
• There will be a frequently asked question section
  addressing concerns/queries that people may
  have.e.g recruitment, expectations, ways of
  making people feel welcome.

9
Fact Sheet for Volunteers

• Include information on what volunteering means in
  the irish context.
• What an organization might expect from a
  potential volunteer, references, garda checks,
  time commitment, language competency.
• It will provide a list of recources for
  volunteers .
• It will be in several languages.

10

• Funding has been received for the publication of
  the resources.
• Publication will take place early next year.
• Volt will run regional networking events and roll
  out the resources at these.