Celebrating ten
years of Change in Donegal
06.06.22
PAST and present
“ChangeMakers” are encouraged to come together at an
Grianan Hotel in Burt this Thursday as the popular
Donegal community action group are celebrating their
10th anniversary.
ChangeMakers, an initiative led by Inishowen Developmemt
Partnership but partnered with Self Help Africa and
Donegal ETB, was established to raise awareness of
global issues, such as sustainability, climate change,
gender equality, Fairtrade, and so much more, but in a
local way.
Over the last ten years ChangeMakers have become
embedded in the local community, running community
gardening projects, helping towns, such as Moville and
Carndonagh, achieve Fair Trade status, as well as
running workshops on the environment, waste, refugees
and climate justice.
The Seeds of Change Grant programme has allowed
ChangeMakers to provide small grant aid to community
groups and initiatives such as Ethical April, which
highlights issues such as sustainable fashion and
plastic pollution and the Inishowen River’s Trust, which
is working on biodiversity projects such as eel
migration and habitat loss. |
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The original ChangeMakers
Crona Gallagher, Patsy Toland and Denise McCool. |
The original ChangeMakers
stirring group, which consisted of Denise McCool from
IDP, Crona Gallagher from Donegal ETB and Patsy Toland,
from Self Help Africa came together after realising the
work they were doing around schools in Inishowen needed
to be highlighted in the wider community.
“The idea of ChangeMakers is that anything that is a
global issue such as climate change or refugees, is a
local issue here in Donegal,” explained Patsy.
“For me ChangeMakers is the model we are tackling the
big issues but in a local way. I know from my time
working with Self Help Africa when it comes down to it
people are just the same – their problems are our
problems its always about connecting the local with the
global.”
Joanne Butler, development officer with ChangeMakers,
said there is a great amount of pride within IDP that
ChangeMakers has gotten to this point.
“I have been involved with ChangeMakers since 2014 and I
have seen this amazing project go from strength to
strength,” she said.
“We are all very happy that ChangeMakers has gotten to
this milestone but seeing local community groups and
individuals take action is what we as an organisation
are most proud of,” added Joanne.
The 10th anniversary celebrations get underway this
Thursday, June 9, at an Grianan Hotel in Burt from 9am –
2pm. Joanne says it will give fellow ChangeMakers, as
well as Seeds of Change participants, community groups,
partners and funders, a chance to reconnect.
Clonmany woman Bébhinn Mullins will be outlining her
‘ChangeMakers journey’, as well as Zimbabwe national
Sikhanyisile Dube, who is passionate about climate
change and sustainability.
“This is a very special occasion for us here at
ChangeMakers, and we hope you can celebrate with us,”
added Joanne.
Booking for this event is advised with tickets being
free of charge. For more search ‘ChangeMakers 10 years’
on Eventbrite or follow this link directly...
www.eventbrite.ie . |
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