Get Active!
Concern has many charity events you can take part in: debates, campaigns, the writing competition and much more. Get active!
Africa Day 2012
Posted by Lizzy Noone | in Get Active! | 21 May 2012 | 0 comments
What do people in Ireland think about Africa? To mark Africa Day, on 25 May, we took to the streets of Dublin to find out.
Global Campaign for Education 2012
Posted by Lizzy Noone | in Get Active! | 18 April 2012 | 0 comments
The Global Action Week for Education takes place on 22 to 28 April all around the world. The campaign will highlight the importance of early childhood education.
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
Guess who said that? No, it wasn’t me. But I wish it was, because I believe the most important human right is the right to education. The aim of this campaign is to ensure that everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, gets a good education.
Find out how you can take part in this campaign by emailing me at lizzy.noone@concern.net.
200 million children
Every year, over 200 million children under the age of five will not reach their full potential. This is due to world leaders’ broken promises, poverty, nutritional deficiencies and inadequate care and learning opportunities. Most of these children live in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
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Take a step for Fairtrade
Posted by Lizzy Noone | in Get Active! | 21 February 2012 | 0 comments
This year, take a step for Fairtrade! During Fairtrade fortnight, from 27 February to 11 March, you can support workers’ rights by buying ethically-produced goodies.
It’s easy
Your step for Fairtrade can be as simple as trying a new Fairtrade product or swapping your usual brand of tea to Fairtrade. If you want to do more, you can launch a campaign in your office to get people involved with Fairtrade.
Why does it matter?
Every single change counts. It means that farmers and workers in developing countries get a better deal.
International development awards
Posted by Níall Ó Murchú | in Get Active! | 19 December 2011 | 0 comments
The All Party Group on International Development (APGID) has launched a website to invite nominations for the second International Development Awards Ceremony, which will take place in Stormont, in Northern Ireland, in March.
The awards
The APGID wishes to acknowledge the efforts of groups or individuals who have made a difference. They are calling for entries across seven award categories for the best contribution to:
- Public sector development
- Aid project by a school or youth group
- Voluntary contribution
- Healthcare services
- Agriculture
- Education
- Economic development
Last year’s winners
Two of last year’s winners were Concern Worldwide’s Roberta Cooney and John Wood.
What’s all this about Crazy Dave?
Posted by Richard Dixon | in Get Active! | 16 December 2011 | 0 comments
It was one of those emails that could have gone anywhere: "Crazy Dave wants to release a single and give the proceeds to Concern." Who, exactly, is Dave, what’s making him crazy and what is the song about?
A little investigation revealed that he's the narrator, if grunts counts as narration, of the uber-popular multi-platform Plants vs Zombies video game. (Note to editor: I need to add in the word "addiction." I've been playing it non-stop for three weeks.)
Crazy and catchy
We listened and listened to the single and decided that there was no sense to the lyrics, but there was something very, very memorable about the music. See for yourself, if you don’t believe us.
Having fun
I spoke with Cathy Orr from PopCap, the makers of the game. She told me that PopCap is entirely focused on having fun. Fun is good, especially when the proceeds of the single benefit Concern’s work.
And the popularity of Plants vs Zombies shouldn’t be underestimated: they have 5.5 million Facebook followers, almost 500,000 YouTube views of the single and a legion of fans throughout the world. The X Factor single has stiff competition for the coveted Christmas number one spot this year!
Gift with a twist
So, if you’re looking for something a little different as a gift this Christmas, could I respectfully suggest Wabby Wabbo – it’ll give you endless amounts of entertainment and you’ll be helping Concern’s work too.
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Crazy Dave’s single supports Concern
Posted by Bernadette Murphy | in Get Active! | 15 December 2011 | 0 comments
Crazy Dave, the lead character in the video game “Plants vs Zombies,” has released a Christmas single called “Wabby Wabbo.” The track is available on iTunes from today. All proceeds benefit Concern Worldwide.
Update: The single is available in the UK now!
Yodelling yeti
The song is believed to be the first hip-hop single ever released to feature a yodelling solo by a yeti zombie. The track costs just 99 cent and Crazy Dave has asked for fans to purchase the track between 15 and 22 December so that all sales will count against the Christmas chart rankings.
Richard Dixon, Concern’s director of public affairs, said:
"We’re thrilled to be named as the charity partners of the Plants vs Zombies single this Christmas. We’re always open to new ways to raise funds for – and awareness of – our work. What could be better than this brilliant game?"
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#esbelectricirelandteama
Posted by Bernadette Murphy | in Get Active! | 7 December 2011 | 0 comments
Wondering what this headline is all about? Why, it’s Concern Worldwide’s very own Twitter hashtag for the Tweet ‘em home for Christmas competition.
Update: The competition is now over and we are delighted to announce that we are the proud winners of #tweetemhome. The €40,000 prize money will go to our emergency programmes in east Africa. Take a look at the highlights from the race alongside our brilliant "opponents": ISPCC Childline and Irish Cancer Society in the video below.
What is it?
Today and tomorrow, Concern will be involved in a Twitter competition. We will be one of three charities that will be collecting tweets and re-tweets; the charity with the most tweets at the end of these two days wins €30,000. It’s really important to remember that all tweets must include #esbelectricirelandteama or they won’t count.
The competition is being run by ESB Electric Ireland and involves celebrities, cars and a race across Ireland. But basically, it’s about creating as many tweets as possible for Concern.
Two-day race
The competition takes place between 8.30am and 7pm today and between 8.30am and 5pm tomorrow so all your tweets need to take place within these times.
How can you help?
We need your help to get as many tweets as we can. All you have to do is re-tweet this to help get us started:
https://twitter.com/#!/Concern/status/143715870009593856
Two-day race
The competition takes place between 8.30am and 7pm today and between 8.30am and 5pm tomorrow so all your tweets need to take place within these time frames.
Vote for us on Facebook
You can also vote for Concern’s team on Electric Ireland’s Facebook page.
Let the race begin
If you want to help us some more, tweet as many times as you can over the next two days – and don’t forget to include our hashtag in your tweets: #esbelectricirelandteama. We’ll also be posting footage of the two-day race on Twitter and Facebook – so make sure you stay tuned in to see how the race is going. Let’s hope we win!
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World AIDS Day events
To mark World AIDS Day on 1 December, Concern Worldwide will be taking part in a number of events in Dublin, including the screening of two short films.
The Dóchas HIV and AIDS working group is showing two short films in the Screen cinema to raise awareness about AIDS. The films are called “‘The Voice of 650 Million Times One” and “The Silent Promise.” Screenings will be followed by a brief question and answer session.
Social exclusion
Directed by the award-winning Dutch director Marjin Poels, “The Voice of 650 Million Times One” is a touching story about people with disabilities from Africa and Asia. They talk candidly about their exclusion from society in matters such as healthcare, sexuality and in particular their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS.
Effects of stigma
“The Silent Promise” is the first HIV awareness film in sign language made in southern Africa. When five friends meet after the funeral of their mutual friend Brooklyn, they are shocked to find that he died of AIDS. In trying to understand why Brooklyn did not tell them about his illness, the friends have to face up to their own feelings about HIV and AIDS.
More details
The films will be screened at 6.30pm on 1 December. For more information, email frank.phillips@concern.net or go to the Dóchas website.
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Tweet ‘em Home for Christmas
Posted by Alan O'Reilly | in Get Active! | 25 November 2011 | 0 comments
Concern Worldwide have been selected for ESB Electric Ireland’s “Tweet ‘em Home for Christmas” campaign! It promises to be great fun. And, with your help, it could mean a possible €30,000 for Concern.
Update: The competition is now over and we are delighted to announce that we are the proud winners of #tweetemhome. The €40,000 prize money will go to our emergency programmes in east Africa. Take a look at the highlights from the race alongside our brilliant "opponents": ISPCC Childline and Irish Cancer Society.
About the competition
So, here’s how it works. ESB Electric Ireland are donating €10,000 each to Concern, the Irish Cancer Society and the ISPCC. Teams for each of these charities will be driving across Ireland to try to win an extra €20,000 for their charity. Oh, and all the cars will be powered by tweets and Facebook likes.
This video explains it all:
Meet the Concern team
Our team will feature Mundy and Joe Rooney who will travel in a DeLorean car from Dublin to Galway and back. They will be stopping for a range of challenges en route. Ian O’Flynn has been selected as the driver of the Concern A Team - check it out on Electric Ireland’s Facebook page.
Climate chaos: you can help
Despite the fact that people in developing countries play no part in creating climate change, they’re the ones who suffer the most because of it. It is our duty to stop climate chaos, take care of the planet and protect the world’s poorest people.
Concern Worldwide is a member of Stop Climate Chaos, a coalition of charities campaigning to ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing climate change. There are loads of things you can do to get involved.
Climate law
The greatest thing Ireland can do to stop climate chaos is to enact a strong climate law and ensure we meet our commitments to developing countries. The Irish government has committed to passing a climate law, and minister for the environment Phil Hogan has told the Dáil that he will publish climate legislation in 2012.
Email your TDs
The law must be strong enough to ensure it is a vital part of building a sustainable Irish economy. Email your TDs now to ask Minister Hogan to send the promised climate bill to the environment committee. This must be done before the UN talks on climate change in Durban this December.
Real action
Join us ahead of the UN climate change talks in Durban as we blow hundreds of vuvzelas outside Dáil Eireann at 1pm on 24 November. We’ll be letting the Irish government know that real action is needed at home and internationally to tackle climate change. Let's stop contributing to the problem and start implementing solutions.
