Post on 28-Sep-2020
Contents UL as a University of Sanctuary ............................................................................. 3
Overview of UL’s University of Sanctuary Committee Members ....................... 4
Activities 2017-2018 ............................................................................................... 5
Sanctuary Scholarship scheme 2017/2018 ............................................................ 5
University of Limerick celebrates Sanctuary Week ............................................... 6
Community engagement and outreach ............................................................... 8
Community Engagement Projects in Focus: ....................................................... 10
Health Hub Sanctuary ................................................................................... 10
Irish World Music Café ................................................................................... 12
World Carnival ............................................................................................... 13
Singing and Social Inclusion Research Group ................................................. 14
Migration and Integration Research Cluster ................................................... 15
Sanctuary Research Dissemination 2017-18 ....................................................... 16
Conference Presentations: ............................................................................ 16
Selected 2017-18 publications include: ........................................................... 16
Dissemination ................................................................................................... 17
Appendix: Images of UL Sanctuary Community enagement and dissemination
activities ........................................................................................................... 19
UL as a University of Sanctuary The current refugee crisis tests the inner strength of the academic space. At the
University of Limerick we firmly believe that a University education should be a
possibility for all. We have been committed to providing access to our University for
people from all backgrounds. It is within this spirit of Welcome that we sought
recognition as a University of Sanctuary. The designation is built on an existing
history of engagement with refuges and asylum seekers in a number of programmes
of education and research. For example, many refugees and asylum seekers have
been involved in programmes captured under the UL Engage umbrella and this
designation is a more formal commitment to enhancing access to a University
education for refugees and asylum seekers.
As a University of Sanctuary we focus on enabling access to third level through a
number of financial support plans and programmes to aid with the transition to
University. We also recognise that as an academic institution we provide a safe space
in which issues which are directly impacting on the lives of refugees and asylum
seekers can be discussed.
Figure 1: Pictured at the launch of UL as a University of Sanctuary: Dr Máiréad Moriarty, Chair UL’s
Sanctuary Committee, Tiffy Allen, Coordinator Places of Sanctuary Ireland, President Desmond
Fitzgerald and Donnah Vumma, scholarship recipient. © True Media
The designation commits the University to a three year action plan with a focus on
encouraging, promoting and enabling refugees and asylum seekers to access third-
level education through various activities and Scholarship programmes. The
University of Limerick will also become a key driver in raising awareness of particular
issues impacting on the lives of refugees and asylum seekers as well as promoting a
spirit of inclusion and welcome in the University, the city of Limerick and beyond. This
is a commitment by the University of Limerick to a three-year action plan to promote
access to educational programmes/courses in third level for those from refugee and
asylum-seeking backgrounds and to contribute to the promotion of their integration
in Ireland. The 3-year action plan has six key drivers. They are:
Sanctuary scholarships to refugees and asylum seekers
Formation of the UL University of Sanctuary steering group
English Language provision to refugees and asylum seekers, including CV
planning and interview skills
Refugee Week events in the University
Establishing a regional HE (Higher Education) research network for refugees and
asylum seekers
To be the key driver in the movement to have Limerick City and Region designated
as a Place of Sanctuary
Dr Máiréad Moriarty/Dr John Lannon Co-Chairs, UL’s University of Sanctuary Committee June, 13th, 2018
Overview of UL’s University of Sanctuary Committee Members Co-Chair: Máiréad Moriarty
Co-Chair: John Lannon
Declan Ahern, Director UL
Counselling Service
Fr John Campion, Chaplin, UL
James Carr, Faculty of Arts,
Humanities and Social Sciences
Rep
Roberta Harrington, Welfare
Officer, UL SU
Grainne Hassett, Faculty of
Science and Engineering Rep
Patrick Hoey, Access Manager
Anca Minescu, Faculty of
Education and Health Sciences Rep
Jonathan Musiime, UL Student
Rep
Helen Phelan, Irish World
Academy of Music and Dance
Elaine Vaughan, Faculty of Arts,
Humanities and Social Sciences
Rep /English language programme
manager
Activities 2017-2018
Sanctuary Scholarship scheme 2017/2018
Overview - Mature Student Access Certificate programme – (MSAC) The Mature Student Access Certificate (MSAC) is a one-year full-time pre-degree
course designed for mature students who wish to develop key learning skills before
applying to a degree programme. The MSAC will facilitate students on the
programme to develop core skills, as well as giving them an opportunity to study a
specialist subject area such as Business, Engineering, Humanities or Science. It also
provides individuals with the opportunity to experience life on campus as full-time
students and to familiarize themselves with the many supports and services available
in The University of Limerick. The MSAC is organised and delivered by the Mature
Student Office, University of Limerick.
17 scholarships were made available to refugee and asylum-seeking students to
access the Mature Student Access Programme for the period 2017-2018. From 2018
students in second-level education who are refugees and asylum seekers will also be
eligible to apply for University of Sanctuary scholarships. The following quotes are
taken from a focus group which sought feedback from the participants from the first
year of our programme.
“It was a dream come true.”
“It provided an opportunity for progression to University/third level.”
“I felt I was making progress in life and not stagnating in the bleak provision of a DP (Direct Provision) centre.”
For further information on our ongoing Scholarship scheme contact:
ULSanctuary@ul.ie
University of Limerick celebrates Sanctuary Week
University of Limerick (UL) held its first Sanctuary Week from March 20th to 23rd. This
was undertaken as part of the ongoing University of Sanctuary programme, and it
main aim was to serve as a platform to raise awareness on issues facing refugees and
asylum seekers.
Figure 2: Combining musical culture at Sanctuary week © Maurice Gunning
Day 1 focused on the right to understanding, language, food and culture. The focal
point was an array of food prepared by University of Sanctuary students and others;
visitors who came along to enjoy this were also given the opportunity to take
information on relevant issues like direct provision.
The second day (Wednesday) coincided with International Day Against Racism.
Students from the International Society and visitors from Sports Against Racism
Ireland were joined by other students and staff in the UL Arena for friendly games of
football and basketball. Free refreshments and music were also provided, and the
slogan for the day was ‘Say no to hate and yes to being together!’
Figure 3: Siege of Ennis at Sanctuary Week © Maurice Gunning
Day 3 provided an opportunity for the university campus community to hear stories
of migration from those who have made the journey and those who have supported
people on the way. There was a screening of a number of short films by solidarity
activist Caoimhe Butterly who was joined by Zoe Lawlor to offer some reflections on
their time providing solidarity and support in Lesvos, Calais and elsewhere. This was
followed by a series of compelling testimonies and presentations from University of
Sanctuary student Sikhulekile Ruth Ndlovu, former asylum seeker and UL student
Jonathan Muhwezi, and Radwan Abo Hajar from the Syrian community in Portlaoise.
The final day of the week was a celebration of sanctuary through music and dance
hosted by UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. It included performances by
UL students and staff, the Elikya Congolese Ensemble, the World Carnival Ensemble
from Presentation Primary School, Armenian Music from the Mid-East Music
Ensemble, Hala Jaber with musicians and singers from Syria and Palestine, John
Nutekpor with music and dance from Ghana, Mary Adewunmi Abiodun Adetunji,
Mickey Dunne, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and more. The finale to the event and to
Sanctuary Week was a giant set-dance that captured the fun and diversity that the
University of Limerick is so proud of.
The UL Sanctuary Committee and indeed the entire campus is already looking
forward to Sanctuary Week 2019!
Community engagement and outreach 1. Participated in Places of Sanctuary Ireland network conference in Dublin on Jan
27th [Mairead, John, Jonathan]
2. Convened webinar on refugee and asylum seeker access to online education on
Feb 21st. This included presentations from Kiron on enabling access to higher
education and successful learning for refugees through digital solutions, the
Refugee OnLine Education ( ROLE) initiative from Athlone Institute of
Technology, and An Cosánon their Virtual Community College[John]
3. ENACTUS Re-stArtproject, co-lead by UoSstudent Sikhulekile Ruth
Ndlovu.Enactus is a global brand of social enterprise society and each of the 36
countries part of it have their own national branch. In Ireland, UL is one of nine
colleges who have Enactus teams. These enable third level students to create, and
implement, social entrepreneurial projects that positively impact on local and
global communities. The Re-stArtproject worked on integrating refugees and
asylum seekers into society through the Arts, as well as giving them opportunities
to grow their soft skills and language skills.
4. Every Child is Your Child (ECIYC) event in Thomond Park organised by a UL staff
member [Finn Lannon] and UoS student [Donnah Vuma].ECIYC is a project to
establish an on-going fund to assist asylum seeker parents of school going aged
children living in Direct Provision. (Photos available).
5. Christmas phone appeal for people living in direct provision. Campus community
supported and gave generously, ensuring that every adult in the three direct
provision centres in/near Limerick received credit to phone their family and loved
ones in other parts of the world at Christmas.
6. War Torn Children exhibition in CB1 Gallery, Limerick in July was organised and
supported by UL staff members [John]. This exhibition of arpilleras, photographs
and posters highlighted the devastating impact of war on children, their families
and communities. See http://cain.ulster.ac.uk/conflicttextiles/search-
quilts/fullevent/?id=168.
7. Student engagement through first year undergraduate module BR4041 Social
Media for Social Good. A group of five students worked with Doras Luimni to
promote Africa Day.
8. Hosted Multicultural Limerick 2017 seminar on promoting the integration of
migrants in through active citizenship and volunteerism (October)
9. SAUL students designed and fabricated tables to host a Foods Event during
Sanctuary Week.
10. ESOL Provision for Refugees and Asylum Seekers- MA TESOL students designed
and delivered 3 separate English language courses to refugees and asylum seekers
in the wider Limerick region.
11. Saturday activities with Syrian and Iraqi refugee families resettled in Limerick;
These activities took place on 24th of March 2018; 21st of April 2018, 12 May 2018;
We included arts and crafts for the whole family, making dream catchers, bunnies
and hearts from different materials; and we had food, Arabic coffee and drinks,
chats as well as music and dance on each occasion. Face painting, nail painting and
henna were also included on the latter 2 events at the request of the families. On
average every one of the 3 activities was attended by over 25 members from the
resettled families and 25 volunteers.
Community Engagement Projects in Focus:
Health Hub Sanctuary The Health Hub Sanctuary Project, this is a collaboration led by the University of
Limerick with 3 community organizations: Doras Luimni, Limerick Mental Health
Association and PAUL Partnership. This group is committed to provide a range of
services to the communities of people with a refugee, asylum seeker or migration
background. So far, beginning in September 2017, we set up the group, launched on
the 24th of March 2018, during Refugee Week, and we ran several activities with the
communities as well as several training sessions. In the coming year, the Project will
grow by expanding its activities to the research as well as policy support, aiming to
become a “first stop” for the social integration of migrant communities and the
promotion of their well-being and general health. Please see the leaflet prepared for
the Launch for more details about the full portfolio of the Project.
Saturday activities with Syrian and Iraqi refugee families resettled in Limerick; These
activities took place on 24th of March 2018; 21st of April 2018, 12 May 2018; We
included arts and crafts for the whole family, making dream catchers, bunnies and
hearts from different materials; and we had food, Arabic coffee and drinks, chats as
well as music and dance on each occasion. Face painting, nail painting and henna were
also included on the latter 2 events at the request of the families. On average every
one of the 3 activities was attended by over 25 members from the resettled families
and 25 volunteers.
Figure 4: Health Hug Sanctuary Volunteers March 24th 2018 © Anca Minescu
Figure 5: University of Limerick student volunteers on 21st of April 2018 (© Anca Minescu)
Figure 6: Messages from the Participants on the 24th of March 2018 (© Anca Minescu)
Figure 7: Saturday activities for families living in Direct Provision in Limerick: 26 of May
2018
Irish World Music Café The Irish World Music Café (Figure 8) is a community-based project coordinated by the Singing & Social Inclusion Research Group at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL. The café provides an opportunity for newcomers to Limerick to meet once a month during the academic year for tea, sandwiches and music. It coincides with ‘English for Beginners’ classes offered by Doras Luimní and is hosted by the CB1 Community Gallery and Café on O’Connell Street, Limerick.
Figure 8: Irish World Music Café Performance ©Maurice Gunning
A special Irish World Music Café was hosted by the Irish World Academy as part of the Sanctuary Week celebrations on March 23rd and featured performances from the Elikya Congolese Ensemble, the Academy Hip-Hop dancers, the Presentation Primary School ‘World Carnival’ Ensemble and the Eastern Classical Music Ensemble. Guests performers also include singer Mary Adewunmi Abiodun Adetunji and poet Ruth Sikhulekile Ndlovu, both registered students on the UL Mature Student Access Programme, as well as PhD students John Nutekpor from Ghana and Hala Jaber from Palestine performing with guest singer Hanin Friha from Syria.
Figure 9: Irish World Café performers pictured as, Sanctuary Week, UL ©Maurice Gunning
World Carnival World Carnival (See Figure 10) is a community-based project coordinated by the Singing & Social Inclusion Research Group at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL in partnership with Music Generation and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The project takes place at Presentation Primary School, one of the most multicultural primary schools in Limerick city. It includes a 12 week programme of learning songs from around the world, a ‘meet the musician day’ for the whole school and a final performance for families, friends and the wider community.
Figure 10: Facing Painting at the World Carnival Performance ©Maurice Gunning
Singing and Social Inclusion Research Group Singing & Social Inclusion group brings together researchers in community music, ethnomusicology, Irish traditional song, music education, music therapy, ritual studies and arts practice research to support interdisciplinary research around issues of singing & inclusivity. Recent events include a seminar on music and religion (October 11th, 2017) with guest speakers Dr. Carmen Kuhling (Senior Lecturer, Sociology, UL; author of Ireland’s New Religious Movements) Dr. Abel Ugba (Senior Lecturer,University of East London; author of Shades of Belonging: African Pentecostals in Twenty-First Century Ireland) and Hala Jaber (PhD Researcher and assistant coordinator of ‘The Irish World Music Café’) and the launch of Professor Helen Phelan’s new book Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish, Oxford University Press, at the Royal Irish Academy (October 17, 2017) by Professor Declan Kiberd. An interdisciplinary group of researchers from the Irish World Academy, Nursing and Midwifery and the Graduate Medical School are currently working on a research project on singing and migrant maternal mental health. The group also published a resource on current research for use by NGOs (Figure 11)
Figure 11: Publication of the Singing and Social Inclusion Research Group
Migration and Integration Research Cluster This research cluster is an interdisciplinary space for research around issues concerning migration and integration. There is research being carried out in this area in every faculty at the University of Limerick. The group launched a directory (Figure 12) of twenty-five such projects for use by NGOs and other research bodies in March, 2017 and is currently developing an on-line and revised version of the directory.
Figure 12: Migration and Integration Research Directory
Sanctuary Research Dissemination 2017-18
Conference Presentations: Moriarty, M. Semiotics of Absence: Voice and Agency in the Refugeescape. Invited Plenary, X-scapes Conference University of Bern, Switzerland, April 2018
Selected 2017-18 publications include: Moss, H., Lynch, J., & O'Donoghue, J. (2017) ‘Exploring the perceived health benefits of singing in a choir: an international cross-sectional mixed-methods study’, Perspectives in Public Health, doi: 10.1177/17579139177396523
Phelan, H. (2018) “Sonic Citizenship: Rites and Rights of Belonging in Ireland” in Ingalls, M., Swijghuisen, M. and Sherinian, Z. (eds.) Making Congregational Music Local in Christian Communities Worldwide. London and New York: Routledge.
Phelan, H., Chappell, D. Robert, A.N. and Hennelly, J. (2017) ‘The Irish World Music Café: Performing and Recording as Tools for Sustainable Social Integration’ Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 17.3 doi:10.15845/voices.v17i3.939.
Phelan, H. (2017) ‘The Untidy Playground: An Irish Congolese Case Study in Sonic Encounters with the Sacred Stranger’, Religions, 8.11 249.14.doi:10.3390/rel8110249.
Phelan, H. (2017) Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Turner, K. (2017) ‘The Lines Between Us: Exploring the Identity of the Community Musician Through and Arts Practice Research Approach,’ Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy,
Special Issue: Performing Health, Identity, and Social Justice, Vol. 2 No. 3. Available at [https://voices.no/index.php/voices/article/ view/941/780]
Turner, K. (2017) The Lines Between Us, CD and digital release, produced by Wood, C.
Dissemination 1. Inclusion of University of Sanctuary in KBS report to the United Nations Principles
for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative. PRME is a platform to
raise the profile of sustainability in schools around the world, and to equip today's
business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change tomorrow
2. Presentation to a group of 24 academics and practitioners from across the EU who
were visiting Ireland to share experiences on working on the integration of young
migrants (November). The visit was coordinated by Youth Work Ireland Tipperary.
3. Participation in and presentation to staff training week on ‘Integration of
Refugees: the role of Universities’ at Sapienza University, Rome in April [John].
The Staff Training Week was organised in the framework of the EU project
inHERE, aimed at strengthening knowledge sharing, peer-support and academic
partnership to facilitate integration and access of refugees in European Higher
Education Institutions.The main objective of the training was to provide university
actors with a set of instruments to enhance the role of European universities in the
integration and support of refugees. The training was aimed at academic and
administrative staff. See https://www.inhereproject.eu/training/staff-training-
week.
4. Presentation by UL architecture faculty of spatial practices issues related to
people migrating at Cambridge University geography dept, public lecture at
Design Museum London and to University of Sheffield architecture dept. The
Sheffield two days of presentations were organised by UL architecture faculty and
incorporated contributions on ethics, cultural theory, humanitarian practices,
philosophy and public figures including Guardian journalist and expert on
EU/Africa migration Daniel Trilling
5. Ongoing project to decolonise the curriculum saw joint UL/UK student groups field
trip to presentation by Forensic Architecture on their methods to document
human rights abuses in Syria, Gaza, Pakistan and Mexico.
6. Project member for REACT: A programme led by NOKUT to develop a European
toolkit for the recognition of prior learning amongst displaced persons.
7. Training sessions on Intercultural Awareness, and Needs of Displaced Children &
Families, Child Protection Training & new guidelines ran within the Health Hub
Sanctuary Project. Some of this training was offered via PAUL Partnership to 40
practitioners from schools and front line services (December 2017-March 2018, 2
sessions delivered separately to 2 groups, at an interval of 2 months). Other
training sessions were offered to around 25 volunteers for the Health Hub
Sanctuary Project: Intercultural training 6 April 2018; Child Protection Training on
the 13th of April 2018; Needs of displaced families on the 27th of April 2018.
8. 1st of December 2018 the Arts office of the University of Limerick launched and
hosted an arts Exhibition: Charon’s Boats, commemorating the 5000 lives lost in
the Mediterranean sea…
9. Children from the Catherine McAuley School designed posters and welcome to
Ireland signs for the children in the refugee families. This was coordinated by one
of the volunteers in the Health Hub Sanctuary Project, Susan Quin.
Appendix: Images of UL Sanctuary Community enagement
and dissemination activities
HEALTH HUB SANCTUARY PROJECT
Health Hub Sanctuary is led by the University of
Limerick in collaboration with Doras Luimni,
Limerick Mental Health Association and PAUL
Partnership. Contributions for our activities come
from researchers and psychologists, community
development workers, resettlement officers,
educational specialists, and various support
groups and volunteers, including UL students. We
provide:
Social-Psychological Support to Migrant Groups &
People Working with Migrant Communities We focus in
particular on those with a refugee & asylum seeker
background.
Training & Information Sessions about the social-
psycholocial, political profile and needs of various migrant
groups, and intercultural competence training for
professionals & volunteers working with migrant communities.
Research-based Policy & Consultancy for relevant public
bodies responsible for migrant integration, facilitated by the
Migration and Intergration Research Group, at the University of
Limerick.
All activities are based on research reviews, expert advice & best practice
brought together by the multidisciplinary inter-agency team of the
Health Hub Sanctuary Project.
I. Social-Psychological Support
Social Activities
* Play Groups for Children
* Cultural Exchanges
* Networking
Psychological Support
* Individual & Group Sessions
* Peer Support for Volunteers
__ II. Training
* Intercultural Competence for
Various Target Groups
* The Psychology of Migration &
Trauma
__ III. Policy & Advisory
* Provide a Research Base for Social
Interventions & Policy
* Document & Evaluate Current
Practice & Interventions
__
Programme available upon request
L o c a t i o n
H E A L T H H U B
Rutland Street, Limerick City
across from the Hunt Museum
For contact, information or if you
wish to join us, email: Health Hub
Sanctuary
hhubsanctuary@gmail.com