This initiative from Concern has the potential to change lives.
A major new nationwide movement involving coffee and public discussion about the world’s biggest problems is being launched in Galway this Thursday 26 October, in which ideas will be turned into life-saving actions.
Project Us, an Irish Aid funded initiative, will travel the country generating debate and an exchange of ideas on how Ireland and the world can solve issues such as climate change and homelessness.
“You look at the news and it’s packed with catastrophic problems from famine and war overseas to homelessness and climate events like Hurricane Ophelia here in Ireland,” said Galway native Sarah Martin, Director of Communications with aid agency Concern Worldwide, which is running the campaign.
“The aim of Project Us is to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Global Goals, which are 17 goals that the Irish government and 192 other governments have promised to deliver.
“We want to get local communities engaged with global issues and how those issues affect them at a local level.
“We are hoping that Project Us will be a catalyst for change and at the very least it will offer a safe space for the exchange of ideas.
“This Thursday in Galway we will be discussing global goal one: no poverty. We are inviting Galwegians to join us in the Harbour Hotel for what promises to be an enjoyable and uplifting evening focussed on a positive future.”
Participants at the event, which starts at 6pm, will sit in groups to discuss key questions.
Concern is working in partnership with the University of Limerick on the project and the themes of the nationwide discussions will be recorded by Dr. Chris McInerney for a report that will be submitted to the Irish government in advance of them going to the United Nations next July to report on Ireland’s progress in reaching the 17 Global Goals.
A key part of the campaign is to raise awareness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as Global Goals, which were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
They include no poverty – which will be the key topic at the first Project Us in Galway – climate action, reduced inequalities and the provision of affordable and clean energy.
A recent survey conducted by Concern Worldwide that examined Ireland’s knowledge and attitude to global issues, found that 50% of people never heard of the Sustainable Development Goals – while 44% heard of them, but don’t know what they are.
Just 2% of people said they are very familiar with the SDGs while 4% said they could name three or more of them.
However, the study found 94% of Irish people are either very interested or take some interest in global issues while 6% said global matters don’t concern them.
A resounding 79% of respondents believe their actions locally can have a global impact while 48% said feel confident speaking about world matters.
“Our actions at home can and do have an impact and Project Us is a new way for people in Galway and beyond to make the world’s Global Goals an historic success,” added Martin.
Anyone who would like to attend Thursday’s [October 26] Project Us event can register here or contact Concern’s Public Engagement Project Coordinator Jessica Maguire at [email protected].
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