Briefing paper for respect project
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The Netwell Centre conducts research and community development work related to aging. Their projects develop technologies and initiatives to support older people aging at home. Findings inform policies and practices in Ireland and internationally. The Respect Project, funded by the EU Peace Program, aims to ensure fair and dignified treatment of migrant care workers, who make an important contribution supporting older people yet often face racism. The project explores issues faced by these workers and raises awareness of cultural diversity and attitudes toward racism.
Briefing paper for respect project
- 1. Who we are? Migrant care workers The Netwell Centre The Netwell Centre is a core research centre based within the School of Health Sciences in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), County Louth. We specialise in research and community development work linked to ageing and later life. Our research projects range from software and hardware solutions to support older people to ‘age in place’, to community develop- ment initiatives such as the RE- SPECT project which promotes an inclusive, tolerant society. The findings from our research projects help inform policy and practice at regional, national and international level. We are a cross-border leader with key strategic partnership in Ireland and internationally. The Respect Project Reach out to support ethnic di- versity (RESPECT) is supported by the European Union's Peace III Programme as awarded by Louth Peace and Reconcilia- tion Partnership. RESPECT aims to ensure that migrant workers are treated with fairness and dig- nity at work and in society and to foster peace and reconciliation through enhanced cross- community understanding. RESPECT explores the issues faced by migrant care workers, including the role of racism in established patterns in work and in the community. The NCCRI Racist Incident Re- porting Procedure has docu- mented an increase in racist inci- dents in Louth directed at mi- grant workers (National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism, 2008). The types of racist inci- dents identified range from Migrant care workers make an important contribution to sup- porting vulnerable older people to continue to live in their own homes and communities. Within County Louth approximately 17% of all care workers working for older people are foreign na- tionals. Yet the contribution these workers make to the eco- nomic and social life of the north east is often overlooked because so little is known of their experi- ences at work and in the commu- nity. Lack of knowledge and cultural understanding can in turn have a destabilising effect on the community. Special points of interest: The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland (2007-2013), commonly referred to as the PEACE pro- gramme, promotes social and economic stability in the region by supporting actions to promote cohesion between communities. The PEACE programme is a unique EU structural funds programme created in 1994 as a response by the EU to positive developments in the peace process. In July 2009, the RESPECT Pro- ject was awarded €29,955 under the PEACE III programme. Netwell Centr e verbal and physical abuse to discrimination in accessing goods or services and in employment. Through the RESPECT Project, the Netwell Centre aims to raise awareness of cultural diversity, challenge attitudes towards ra- cism and support conflict resolu- tion at the local level. “To reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation by increasing economic development and employment, promoting urban and rural regeneration, developing cross-border co- operation and extending social inclusion” (SEUPB, 2007). We’re on the Web! http://netwellcentre.org/