Féile Bríde 2025

Afri

Brigid’s Light: Illuminating Paths of Justice and Solidarity

We are delighted to welcome you to Féile Bríde 2025. Organised in partnership with the Brigidines and Cairde Bríde in the beautiful Solas Bhríde Centre, this gathering is dedicated to exploring and encouraging action on the pressing issues of our time. The event brings together diverse speakers, wonderful musicians, and active community members for a day filled with information and inspiration, punctuated by music and poetry, light lunch, tree planting, and conversation.

The theme, “Brigid’s Light: Illuminating Paths of Justice and Solidarity,” calls on us to reflect deeply on our world’s challenges and honour the spirit of Brigid as a woman who cared deeply for the earth, justice, equality, and peace. The story of Brigid offers a profound lens through which we can understand our present struggles, having offered her father’s most prized possession, a bejewelled sword, to a poor and sick man so he could exchange it for food. Thus, Brigid turned a sword into a ploughshare and transformed a tool of war into nourishment and care. Today, this act of resistance is not only a symbol of hope but a powerful call to confront militarism and the destructive forces that perpetuate genocide, injustice and environmental ruin.

Our incredible contributors will illuminate these challenges and help us understand how to forge pathways of peace and justice. Brigid’s legacy is a stark reminder that we are the ancestors of the future, called to challenge injustice now so future generations may be free. At this moment of collective urgency, we remember that Brigid’s act was not just defiance but one steeped deeply in love and solidarity, as our event is, too.

Register on Eventbrite here

Programme

10:15 Registration
10:50 Opening Music by Emer Lynam and Procession of the Flame of Peace
10:55 Welcome
11:10 Brigid’s Call to Action Today: Defying Militarism and Protecting The Triple Lock – Niamh Ní Briain
11:50 Music – Dee Armstrong, performing songs from her upcoming solo album, Deichtine’s Daughter, accompanied by Lughaidh Armstrong and Gráinne Horan
12:10 Solar Lights and the Work of Development Pamoja – James Hennessy
12:50 Music – Dee Armstrong, accompanied by Lughaidh Armstrong and Gráinne Horan
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Tree Planting
14:15 Pocket Forests: Bringing Biodiversity to Your Doorstep – Catherine Cleary
14:50 Music – Kate Moore
15:00 Solidarity is Key – Raghad Abu Shammala
15:30 Closing Session – Seeds of Hope
16:20 Music

(Dis)Placed – The Weight of History

Afri

Date: 25th January 2025

Time: 7.30pm

Location: Glebe House

Register on Evenbrite

Join us in the Boyne Valley to explore themes of poverty, conflict and migration. Drawing upon the ghosts and threads of history, we will examine the Battle of the Boyne and the famine that came sometime later. Current conflicts and injustice will also be explored through the lens of migration and displacement and the impact that this has had on people and the communities involved. Lastly, we will hear readings from the powerful play, “Bassam” (Please see below) , which is based in Palestine, a land that has experienced oppression, violence and conflict for decades. Katie Martin (Afri), Stephanie Kirwan (Meath Partnership) and Fadl Mustapha (Actor, Activist and Theatre Director) will contribute to what promises to be an engaging and emotive event. A Question and Answer/dialogue will be facilitated after the inputs from our guests to maximise audience participation.

“This one-man show is based on the true story of Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian peace activist, whose ten-year-old daughter Abir, was killed by an Israeli soldier in 2007.

Bassam, who served seven years in jail for his activities in the Palestinian resistance movement, co-founded Combatants for Peace in 2005, a non-violent organisation of former Israeli and Palestinians combatants.

Fadl Mustapha, a Palestinian actor, refugee and activist, who lives in Ireland, plays Bassam, a man who wants justice for his daughter but resolutely refuses to go the violent route. The play itself is a Palestinian/Israeli collaboration whose author, Idan Meir, is an Israeli writer and peace activist who now lives in Austria”

Organised by Development Perspectives

Louie Bennett Commemoration

Afri

Afri’s action-packed year once again commences with a moment of rich reflection on Louie Bennett’s legacy.

We will gather at the bench commemorating her and her partner Helen Chenevix (1886-1963) in Stephen’s Green at 2 pm next Tuesday, 7th January, the anniversary of Louie’s birth in 1870.  The bench was unveiled two years after her death in 1956 and is curved in honour of her commitment to conversation – a turning towards one another, whatever challenges we face.  This notion is beautifully captured in the Irish word caidreamh, which headlines Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, our commitment to peaceful conflict resolution under international law. 

Louie Bennett, a novelist who loved her garden, would encourage us to pause and reflect there so as to re-engage with the challenges and conflicts of our time.  A central figure in the Irish Women Workers’ Union and the first female President of the Congress of Trades Unions, from her Church of Ireland background, she was staunch for Irish freedom through radically peaceful means, within a resolutely internationalist perspective.

During World War I – a time like ours when the world seemed hell-bent on destructive enmities – Louie worked tirelessly to maintain and restore the possibilities of peace.  She was equally resolute in confronting Irish militarism during the struggle for independence, and in the 1950s as the seductions of the Cold War began to warp our foreign policy and Neutrality. She was central in the Irishwomen’s International League, which invited the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom to Dublin.  WILPF eagerly accepted the invitation in Summer 1926, bringing the very first international conference held in the fledgling Free State.

There are few, if any, figures from our first century who can encourage and challenge us in the causes of peace, human rights and social transformation, as did Louie Bennett and Helen Chenevix.  We will be joined by Joe Black Ryder and the Resistance Choir to honour that legacy next Tuesday.

The End Of Year Album 2024

Afri

As we approach the end of 2024, we’re presented with the unique opportunity to look back on the journey of 2024. In this video, we take you through Afri’s efforts over 2024 to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world through events, publications, films, and activities.

This moment also presents a chance to cast our gaze towards the possibilities 2025 holds—a significant year as Afri turns 50! 2025 marks five decades of Afri actively opposing war, promoting food sovereignty, and tackling climate change. We will celebrate this momentous anniversary in September 2025 – watch this space! Lastly, this moment is also especially important for us to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our community of friends and supporters. Our work would not be possible without your steadfast support, compassion and solidarity! We wish you and your loved ones a peaceful 2025 and hope to see you at some of our events!

Peacemaker: Afri Newsletter 2024

Afri

This issue of Afri’s annual newsletter covers Afri activities throughout 2024 including our anti-militarisation work, campaigning around climate justice, as well as educational work in secondary schools and Technological Universities and the launch of a number of educational resources.

View the newsletter here

Give a Gift of Light to a Kenyan Family 

Afri

This Christmas, give a gift of light to a family in Kenya. Children and families who do not have electricity will benefit from your gift.

Many children in Kenya are very enthusiastic about education. Tabitha and Abel (pictured below) live with their mother, Magdalene Sembele. Tabitha and Abel received their lamp in October 2019. Before their solar lamp, they used a paraffin lamp. The solar lamp provides them a safe and clean light source and enables their mother to charge her phone instead of travelling to the village centre for a fee.

Continue reading “Give a Gift of Light to a Kenyan Family “ →

Reflections from our Teacher Training Day

Afri

Last Wednesday, November 20th, we hosted a fun and challenging workshop, diving into how teachers can cultivate emotional intelligence, empathy and empowerment when exploring global issues through drama-based activities and other creative methodologies 🌏 

Led by Pete Mullineaux, participants explored how to:

  • foster dialogue about global issues 
  • model methods of conflict transformation in the classroom
  • support emotional intelligence, with a significant focus on awareness, expression, empathy and decision-making in solidarity 
  • facilitate deeper emotional connection to issues through storytelling and simulations to motivate students to take action

Many activities came from our resource, Interdependence Day, which uses drama to explore global issues. From role-playing scenarios and simulations to collaborative problem-solving exercises, everyone walked away with new insights and practical tools to engage and empower with topics that can often be overwhelming, like the military-industrial complex, global hunger, and forced displacement. 

Thank you to everyone who participated 🌱

The passion and energy in the room blew us away. Teachers have highlighted the need for practical ways to support emotional connection to issues, cultivate attitudes and values in school, such as compassion and empathy, and develop essential skills, like critical thinking and problem-solving, to support global citizenship. We hope this training did just that!

If you are a secondary school teacher and would like to be added to our mailing list, use our resources, or participate in student workshops exploring themes such as global hunger, war, and forced displacement, please contact katie@afri.ie. 

Our next teacher training will take place on March 20th, 2025,  focusing on using our new Resource for Secondary School Teachers, Slí na Síochána, by Nicola Winters. 

Let’s sow seeds of peace wherever we can!

Afri’s Hedge School 2024 at TU Dublin Blanchardstown

Afri

On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, we held our 12th annual Hedge School in partnership with TU Dublin in Blanchardstown. Our Hedge School harks back to the informal gatherings in Ireland that provided education at a time when strict laws suppressed schooling. This history serves as a reminder of how dominating powers can restrict, withhold, or distort knowledge. Today, our annual Hedge School holds space for humans’ innate need to share, learn, and take action for a just, equitable, and sustainable world.

This powerful student-led event delved into the justice issues of Palestine, housing, and gender equality, framed within the very apt theme of the Hedge School ‘Human Rights for Humanity’. The video below beautifully captures the workshops, speakers, discussion, stalls, music, art, and, of course, tree planting. Together, we explored pathways of solidarity, centred on Fannie Lou Hamer’s words: “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

Teacher Training: Cultivating Emotional Intelligence for a More Peaceful World

Afri

Calling all Secondary School Teachers! Harness the power of creative skills and strategies to create a more peaceful world!

When: Wednesday, November 20th, 10.30am – 3 pm

Where: Carmelite Community Centre (56 Aungier Street D02 T258 Dublin 2)

Join us for an engaging and transformative training designed specifically for secondary school teachers led by the fantastic facilitator Pete Mullineaux. This interactive session focuses on building emotional intelligence (EI) in classrooms through creative methodologies, to empower students and foster a more peaceful and just world within our classrooms and communities.

Workshop Highlights:

– Understanding Emotional Intelligence: Explore the critical components of EI and why it is essential in the educational environment. Learn how emotional awareness can enhance communication, conflict transformation, and student engagement.

– Practical Strategies: Participate in hands-on activities that offer practical strategies for integrating emotional intelligence into your teaching practices. From developing empathy in students to managing classroom dynamics, you’ll discover tools that can positively impact your approach to education.

– Creating Peaceful Classrooms: Delve into cultivating a more harmonious classroom atmosphere. Learn how to recognise and address emotional triggers, promote mindfulness among students, and encourage open dialogue.

– Building a Just World: Understand the role of educators in shaping a just society. By fostering emotional intelligence, teachers can empower students to become compassionate global citizens capable of contributing to positive change.

– Interactive Discussions: Engage in meaningful conversations with fellow educators, sharing experiences and insights to enrich your teaching practice and contribute to a supportive community of growing EI advocates.

Who Should Attend:

This workshop is ideal for secondary school teachers, school management, Youthreach tutors, and educators committed to cultivating empathy and emotional intelligence for a more peaceful educational environment and world.

About the Facilitator:

Pete Mullineaux is a long-time facilitator of Global Citizenship in schools. He’s published several educational resources, including Interdependence Day – Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals through Drama for All Ages (Afri, 2021). He’s also written articles for Policy & Practice: A Development Education Review (Centre for Global Education, Belfast). His recent poetry collection We are the Walrus focuses on the environment, while emotional intelligence as part of developmental learning is imaginatively explored in a novel, Jules & Rom – Sci-fi meets Shakespeare (Matador 2021).

Costs:

The workshop is completely free for teachers to participate in. This is thanks to the grant we received from WorldWise Global Schools. Find out more about WorldWise Global Schools here: https://www.worldwiseschools.ie/

See you soon!

Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of emotional intelligence and learn how to apply it in your teaching practice. Let’s shape a more peaceful and just world for our students!

To find out more or register, access the Eventbrite page here