Catherine Young Dance initiated The Welcoming Project in 2016 as a way to foster cultural integration and social inclusion with Ireland's new communities.
Through a common bond (the arts), the playing field is equal and a space is offered where people can come together, share their culture, their music, songs, dances, food and stories. A place where Irish people can be inspired to learn the cultures of others and where new communities have the opportunity to meet local Irish people.

Currently the group includes migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and local Irish spanning many countries including: Syria, Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Malawi, Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, Ireland, UK, Switzerland, Germany among others.

The project, through dance, challenges prejudice and misconceptions, develops empathy, and promotes intercultural understanding between migrants and the host communities in Kerry, Dublin and Longford where they take place.
The project also develops personal and transferable skills in migrants, making positive improvements – building self confidence and self-esteem, presentation skills, language and communication, new friendships and awareness of Ireland’s cultures. It promotes the positive contribution of migrants.
A core decision when creating the group was to have a mix of local people with migrants in order for each to get to know the other so the group strives for a 50:50 ratio of migrants to locals.

To date the collective have created two full length works of excellence: ‘Welcoming the Stranger’ (2016) and ‘It takes a Village’ (2017).

It takes a Village, music & dance was recorded live at the Abbey Theatre
27 August 2018

Podcast Editor:Lisa Farrelly/Sound Guru: Derek Conaghy

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