World Humanitarian Day 2010

Today, Thursday 19 August, World Humanitarian Day promises to be memorable; Concern Worldwide is hosting a free event in Dublin. The event takes place at the Cultivate centre, St Andrew Street, Dublin 2 – view map. All are welcome.

This morning we received a message from Mary McAleese, President of Ireland:

It gives me great pleasure to send my warmest good wishes to all those marking the United Nations World Humanitarian Day in Ireland. This day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the wonderful contribution made by international development and humanitarian workers and in particular the contribution made by many Irish workers, volunteers and supporters to humanitarian causes. I congratulate all of them on their excellent work.

One-to-one chats

From midday until 6pm, anyone interested in humanitarian work and international development can chat with one of our members of staff. Visitors can ask questions about our work, including our emergency responses like Haiti, on a one-to-one basis.

Concern café

The venue will be laid out like a café. Fairtrade Mark Ireland will be there, offering visitors a cup of delicious Fairtrade-certified coffee for only one euro. There will also be a striking photo exhibition on display.

There will be several tables, each of which will focus on a particular topic:

Aid workers

Chat with humanitarian aid and development workers (they’ll be wearing identity stickers) about their overseas experiences and the issues they face.

Reverse culture shock

What happens when an Irish aid worker goes overseas? What happens to their social welfare, and other state entitlements? What issues do they face when they return? This table is provided courtesy of Comhlámh, the Irish Association of Development Workers.

Career break or change

How to work with an agency like Concern? What skills and qualities are we looking for?

Emergencies and disasters

Talk with some of Concern’s emergency response team about natural disasters. Topics will include the Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods, and the impact of climate change.

Communications

How video, blogging and social media, such as YouTube and Twitter, are being used by aid workers to relay critical information and images to the wider world.

Technology

How technology supports the work of aid workers in remote and difficult locations. This includes solar panels, satellite dishes and mobile communications.

Images

Why has the Irish development and humanitarian sector developed its own Code of Conduct on Images and Messages? Concern and Trócaire are signatories. This discussion is courtesy of Dóchas.