Cultúr celebrating 20 years of service to migrant community

Cultúr Migrants Centre will be 20 years old in 2024 and the board, staff and those it supports will be celebrating the milestone.

A celebratory calendar, a seminar next June, a number of different diversity programmes, activity weeks and a poster campaign will be among the initiatives to celebrate the organisation's 20 years of activity and service.

Cultúr Migrant Centre is a regional community organisation working with migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, focusing on the promotion of equal rights and improving the empowerment, participation and self determination of ethnic minorities.

"We're very much a Meath-based organisation - our offices in the Parish Centre in Navan - although we've spread our wings in recent years into parts of Louth, Cavan and Dublin," says Tinu Achioya programme manager.

"We're going to be organising some great events for our 20th birthday. We're inviting our business partners, organisations we collaborate with, and others to help us fund our anniversary activities.

"To begin, we're going to publish a 2024 celebratory calendar and we're inviting local organisations to show support through advertising."

"There will be many events to celebrate diversity and inclusion in Meath."

Cultúr has been extremely busy over the past 20 years and last year alone worked with 3,727 individuals who are making their home in Ireland.

"We deal with issues like racism and employability and provide a wrap around service for international protection applicants."

Education is a major part of the organisatons work and they organise courses to help improve work skills, while also providing integration and anti racism training.

They run intercultural events that bring together members of the host community with new Irish communities and raises cultural awareness. These include Lunar New Year, International Women's Day, Anti-racism Day, a 5K run and walk, Africa Day, Ukraine Independence Day, Women's Dinner and International Human Rights Day.

Throughout the year, Cultúr continues to provide English classes for those with elementary and intermediate English as well as accredited English classes that include Cambridge exam preparation and guidance.

This year's event, which was held at the New Grange Hotel in Navan, attracted over 115 attendees, more than 20 employers and seven educational service providers.

The fair convened 20 one-to-one CV clinics including workshops on CV preparation and interview skills to equip job seekers with tools to help them stand out in the job market.

Cultúr will host the Inspire Women’s Gala Dinner at the Newgrange Hotel in Navan on 17th November.

The event will celebrate the achievements of women from all walks of life, with women inspiring other women for the coming year.

The Guest of Honour for the night will be the Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee.