Carnlough resident Laura takes part in Alice Academy for Activists
A Carnlough woman involved in championing change across cancer services has taken part in a residential bootcamp, designed to equip emerging activists with strategic campaigning skills.
Laura O’Hare was one of 19 people from across the island of Ireland who participated in the Alice Academy for Activists.
Hosted by all-island public relations agency Alice and supported by Community Foundation Ireland, the event was held in Dublin from January 15-18.
Laura, who is aiming to bring about better support for children impacted by cancer, was mentored in key campaigning areas over the four-day Academy.
Together with the other participants, she attended workshops and clinics delivered by campaign and communications specialists including Ailbhe Smyth, feminist and LGBTQ+ activist and leader of the Republic of Ireland’s successful campaign to Repeal the Eighth Amendment; Baroness Margaret Curran, a Scottish Labour Party politician and current member of the House of Lords, who has worked extensively in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe to promote democracy and women’s leadership; and Eileen Dunne, who spent 40 years working as a newscaster and journalist in RTÉ.
Other specialists included David Stanton, who was a member of Dáil Éireann for almost 30 years; and Stephen Donnelly, a community organising expert, who ─ from his base in Melbourne, Australia ─ works with movements across the globe that want to build power to make the world a better place.
Laura is youth engagement manager with Cancer Fund for Children, an all-island charity that supports children, young people, parents and carers impacted by cancer.
Her current role’s focus is on ensuring that young people are at the heart of the organisation and are active voices for change.
A life-long activist, Laura’s first experience was in school when she successfully campaigned alongside others in her community to save her local library from closure.
Martina Quinn, the founder and CEO of Alice Public Relations, said: “We set up the Alice Academy for Activists in 2024 because we have specialised, during our 10-year history of Alice, in working with charitable organisations and progressive campaigners who are seeking to bring about positive change on the island of Ireland and indeed across the world.
"We recognise that campaigners and groups sometimes don’t have access to specialist skills, training and supports, and networks of other like-minded people, so the Academy is all about addressing that need.
“The range of experts who presented at the Academy includes people who have been involved in campaigning their whole lives, so the participants had the chance to tap into a huge well of expertise and knowledge and experience, and to use the opportunity to pick the brains of those who have come before them.
“The people who participate in the Academy are among the many good people who want to make the world a better place. That has to give us all hope.”
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, added: “The Academy really matches many of our donor priorities in Community Foundation Ireland, which are about strengthening democracy across the island, and ensuring we have a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector that collaborates and reduces inequalities.”