Fahmeda Naheed
Originally from Pakistan, Fahmeda was one of 5 participants of our 2018 Migrant-Councillor Internship Scheme, interning with Cllr Mick Nugent on Cork City Council.
Fahmeda Naheed was one of the 5 participants of the Immigrant Council’s first Migrant-Councillor Internship Scheme that ran in 2018. Fahmeda’s mentor in the programme was Cllr Mick Nugent from Cork City Council.
“My core-objective was to learn how the local politics works in Cork City, especially in North West Ward, as I am resident of this area as well. I was also very keen to see public participation in raising their local issues; councillors and political party’s initiatives towards community work; and, how do councillor address local issues of their constituencies. It was interesting to see the Sinn Féin’s campaigns on national issues including Vote for Yes campaign and housing crisis.
“Through this scheme, I also attended different events in which ‘international issues and causes’ shape local political voices e.g. free Palestine campaign – including expelling Israeli diplomats from Ireland. Awareness about other national issues were key focused by councillors and public , e.g cancer and mental health and suicide issues, campaigning for rights of workers, water protest, healthy living and working with other local and national organizations to create more awareness and collecting donations for local charities were part of the internship.
“Over all, this scheme provided me opportunity to meet with political representatives of my area as well as a feeling of belongingness to their country and working to bring change by participation in activities and raising their voices.
“In my country the politicians are treated like VIPs, they are the people who deserve to be rich, they are the people who deserve to be respected with high prestige and all that. But when I saw the Councillors here, it is very different. At some events the Councillor has to get a chair for himself, has to make tea himself. Councillors wear a simple shirt and jeans.
“A politician should be like this. But a lot of migrants I know have this other perception of politicians. What is here is closer to the spirit of democracy. It surprised me. I was impressed by the dedication. They have to work full-time.
“All people at the party meetings were Irish. I was the only one with coloured skin. They were all looking at me like maybe she forgot the way.
“After seeing the work of a Councillor I convinced some people from migrant backgrounds to go and talk to their local Councillor for advice and help on their issues. And they said ‘we can’t as we are not Irish’. This sense that because they were not Irish they were not allowed to do that. This is a wrong attitude that we have to address.”
The Immigrant Council is delighted to be running the Migrant-Councillor Internship Scheme in 2021. To learn more or apply, visit https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/campaign/migrant-councillor-internship-scheme. Applications close Friday 23 July 2021.
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