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Migrant Electoral Empowerment training
Please note the Migrant Electoral Empowerment Training programme has finished for 2021. Stay tuned for updates on new opportunities and trainings offered by the Immigrant Council.
Democracy requires meaningful political participation from all groups in its society, and the Immigrant Council of Ireland is delighted to announce a training programme for migrant election candidates.
‘Migrant Electoral Empowerment’ offered insightful online training with clear information on preparing, designing and implementation practices required to run and manage election campaigns.
The programme was open to all migrants interested in running in the 2024 local elections, including those with no prior experience in electoral politics. Participants were encouraged to adapt, personalise, plan and create their own individual election campaigns along the way.
Training ran for 6 weeks from 13 April until 18 May 2021.
The core modules covered:
- Irish political system;
- Roles and responsibilities of a local councillor;
- Building local connections;
- Communication and media engagement;
- Canvassing;
- Online campaigning;
Each session will have a keynote delivered by current local councillors of a migrant background.
Ongoing learning opportunities will be extended to the peer network so as to further advance their own development journeys; empowering all to gain more knowledge and develop their own informed views of Irish politics as well as to enable room for their own unique visions of their role in Irish politics.
Participants must be:
- A migrant
- Residing in Ireland
- Aged 18 or over
- Comfortable with the English language
- Have access to the Internet
Evaluation report
Trainers
Teresa Buczkowska
A Polish migrant woman living in Ireland since 2005, Teresa joined the Immigrant Council of Ireland in 2013, initially as an Integration Intern, progressing to the position of the Integration Team Coordinator in 2015. Teresa holds an MA in Ethnography and Social Anthropology from Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Teresa is a qualified trainer in diversity management, intercultural competency and anti-racism.
Aalaa Elmusharaf
An African migrant woman living in Ireland since 2017, Aalaa is a determined leader for meaningful progressive change. She offers great insight gained from her political experience as a 2019 Local Elections Campaign Manager for an African Muslim female migrant, whose endorsement from Thomas Pringle T.D. helped guide the process. Migrant Electoral Empowerment training will showcase tailored content to match practical demands and realities for future migrant candidates interested in running in the upcoming local elections.
Check out our other projects supporting migrant political participation:
Questions about our Migrant Electoral Empowerment training programme?
Get in touch! Send us an email and we'll be happy to respond to any questions.