Youths deliver strong message to policymakers in Cork at anti-racism summit

SPEAKERS at a youth-led anti-racism summit at Cork City Hall yesterday, delivered a strong message about making the city more inclusive to policymakers and leaders of organisations such as the Gardaí, schools, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, Tusla, youth and community groups, UCC, MTU, and teachers.

The event, supported by the Cork Migrant Centre, the Youth Initiative against Racism, the Young People’s Services Committee, Cork City Council, and Nano Nagle Place, is in its third year.

It featured keynote speakers and performances by young people who had been preparing for the summit for the past six months.

According to Leen Maarouf, a Palestinian woman and anti-racist development worker at the Cork Migrant Centre, the summit was aimed at empowering young people to “confront systemic” racism in Ireland and focused on the ‘pressing issues of the direct provision system’ which directly affects young refugees, migrants, and minority communities, including Travellers and LGBTQ+ communities.

“Recent incidents of discrimination, and the shortfall in public investments in these communities, underline the necessity for this event,” said Leen.

Youth mentor and co-ordinator at the Cork Migrant Centre, Raphael Olympio, said he had “had the privilege of working closely with young people” and described their stories, insights and strategies to combat racism as “truly eye-opening and encouraging”.

“Their resilience in the face of adversity and unwavering determination to create a more inclusive society are constant sources of inspiration,” he said. “The future looks better, especially if the people of Cork get on board with this initiative.”

As well as the many addresses from leading policymakers, including the CEO of Anti-Racist Cumbria in Britain, the summit also highlighted the stories of young people in performances in which they expressed their experiences of racism through creativity, music, spoken word, dance and theatre.

The event also gave a platform to a number of young people to showcase their leadership and talent, as they delivered the loud and clear message that they wanted to be at the forefront of the movement for positive change.