The Cairde Balbriggan Integration Through Common Experience Initiative is a project initiated by Cairde. It ran between March and December 2011. It was built on Cairde’s significant track record in outreach work with ethnic minority communities in order to promote and facilitate integration. It was done through a series of actions which have provided a platform for ethnic minority communities and the indigenous Irish community to share common experiences. This initiative has built the capacity of the community members, both minority and non-minority, to ‘front-up’ an outreach process to ensure maximum engagement in the interest of the wider community.

Read more about the project.

Cairde encourages women from ethnic minorities to take free smear tests as a part of CervicalCheck programme for women between 25-60 years old.

European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week takes place between January 22 and 28.

Every year around 300 women in Ireland are newly diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 90 lives lost. However well organised screening programmes such as cervical check, have been proven to reduce mortality rate of cervical cancer.

A smear test only takes a few minutes and it is the most effective way to detect changes in the cells of the cervix (neck of the womb). The earlier cell changes are found, the easier they are to treat. There is a choice of over 4,150 male and female GPs, doctors and practice nurses nationwide – and it’s free.

Cairde will support you in arranging your free smear test.

How to arrange your free smear test

To arrange a smear test you can contact a registered smeartaker of your choice to make an appointment. Thousands of GPs, practice nurses, Women’s Health, Family Planning and Well Woman Clinics all over Ireland are registered. For details of all registered GPs, doctors and practice nurses you can call CervicalCheck on 1800 45 45 55 or visit www.cervicalcheck.ie.

CervicalCheck also sends invitation letters to women who are on the CervicalCheck register. You can check that you are on the register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or check on-line at www.cervicalcheck.ie.

If you have already had a CervicalCheck smear test, CervicalCheck will let you know by post when your next smear test is due – and if you change address, be sure to let CervicalCheck know your new contact details.

How often should you have a smear test?

It is recommended that women have a smear test every three to five years, depending on your age.

The results

Most smear test results are found to be perfectly normal and CervicalCheck will contact you about your results within four weeks of having your free smear test.

European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is organised by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) with the support of CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme.

Cairde Balbriggan has received a Certificate of Appreciation from Fingal County Council in recognition of valuable contributions to integration in Fingal for the project Integration through Common Experience.

The United Youth of Ireland invites all to an event taking place at 6p.m. followed by Miss Ethnic 2012 beauty contest at 8 p.m. at The Academy Plaza Hotel on Friday 25^th November 2011 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In Ireland, Female Genital Mutilation is a serious concern for the protection of children, as the most common age when FGM is performed is between four and ten years but it  can cause grave health complications for women in later life too. The Department of Health and Children have published the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill 2011 and the Bill is on the order paper for Seanad Eireann but more needs to be done if this brutal practice is to be criminalised in Ireland. This evening will be an opportunity to learn more about the issues surrounding FGM and developments nationally and internationally.

While there is a lack of concrete data on suicide among ethnic minorities in Ireland, studies suggest that the rate might be higher then that of the general Irish population. In dealing with this issue, a greater understanding of the different cultural attitudes towards suicide among different ethnic groups must be coupled with more accessible mental health services and support. – Cairde highlighted in Child Links, a journal published by Bernardos.

‘Suicide – different cultural perspectives’ ‘Child Links’ Issues 2 2011 – ‘Suicide and Families’

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Cairde’s Ethnic Minority Health Forum (EMHF)

Recent Changes to Medical Card application and Habitual Residency Condition

Date: Wednesday 19th October, 2011

Time: 10.45 am to 12.30pm

Venue: Cairde, No.19 Belvedere Place Dublin 1

The discussion will be led by Mr. Emmanuel NjumeSone, Health Advocacy Officer Cairde.  If you wish to attend the forum, please register with Junyu Wang email hidden; JavaScript is required , by 18th October 2011 before 5pm. Lunch will be provided and €5.00 transport fee will be given to each participant at the end of the forum. A team of media students from NUI Maynooth will be present at the forum to the record the event in a way to showcase migrant’s integration and the path forward improve access to health services and other areas.

About 400-500 residents of Balbriggan partcipated in the Fair. The event took place on Saturday, 15th of October at Cairde’s premises on Hampton Street in Balbriggan.

The Fair was an opportunity to find out what Balbriggan has to offer.

Members of different communities living in Balbriggan came together to organise this event and ensure there is going to be
something for everyone.

• Information fair
• Kids area
• Free International Food Fair
• Entertainment

The Fair was a part of Cairde Balbriggan Integration Through Common Experience Initiative (ITCEI).

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Cairde Training: “Cancer Prevention, Early Detectionand Cancer Screening.” The training is open toanybody who works with Cairde and is in contact with ethnicminority communities. It is three session programs, it will be on:

• 02nd of November 2011      9:30 am to 12:30 am
• 09th of November 2011      9:30 am to 12:30 am
• 23rd of November 2011      9:30 am to 12:30 am
• 30th of November 2011      9:30 am to 12:30 am

Training location is on: Cairde, 19 Belvedere Place, Dublin 1.

It will be led by Ms Laura Molloy, Screening Promotion Officer, The National CancerScreening Service, Forfurther information, please find attached

Please note: Admission is completely free; Space is limited,to register for the training contact:

Mr. Junyu Wang, Health Advocacy Officer,Cairde, 19 Belvedere Place, Dublin

Tel: 01-8552111 or Email: email hidden; JavaScript is requiredemail hidden; JavaScript is required

Cairde organised a number of  the Weight Management/ Healthy Eating Sessions as a part of Cáirde Summer 2011 activities. During a session participants learned about:

• Basic Principles of Weight Management
  Psychology of Eating
  Stomach Hunger vs. Mouth Hunger
  Resolving Food Conflicts
  Keys to Maintaining a Healthy Weight
  Keys to Healthy Eating
  Eating Behaviors for a Healthy Body Weight
  Components of Physical Activity/Exercise
  Underlying Causes of Eating
  Alternative Substitutes/Food Preparation Techniques
  Demonstration of Portion Sizes
  Introduction to the Food Pyramid

It was a  great way to learn something new and meet new people!

Cairde is currently seeking to recruit Community Health Worker (Community Employment Scheme).

The key task of the Community Health Worker is to support the work of the Health Information and Advocacy Centre through community development.

Applicants should have some experience (in paid or unpaid capacity) and/or interest in community development and some understanding of issues affecting ethnic minority communities in Ireland. The successful applicant will be encouraged to undertake training relevant to the role.

Applicants must have fluency in written and spoken English, and fluency in Polish or Russian language.

This position is based on Community Employment scheme: part-time, 19.5 hours per week, and anyone who wishes to apply should meet the community employment criteria outlined by FÁS.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 8^th of July 2011.

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