Get to know your Polish neighbours

As part of its Good Relations Strategy, the Council is providing a half day workshop facilitated by the Polish Association Northern Ireland offering participants the chance to learn more about the Polish community and their culture and dispel some of the myths or misconceptions about Polish migrant workers.

The workshop will also provide tools to remove stereotypes and educate participants on how to engage with our local Polish Community in relevant ways.

Community Relations Officer Sue Divin said: “The aim of the workshop is to create more positive perceptions and to educate local community groups and businesses about the Polish culture, which has an increasingly important place in our city.

“As Polish people now make up a significant percentage of our local workforce and communities, it’s important that we raise awareness of the positive impact and contribution the Polish community brings to our council area.

“As sometimes people may have incorrect stereotypical notions of why the Polish migrant community has settled here, it’s important that community groups and local businesses have a basic knowledge of how to tackle that form of racism by providing the correct understanding of the situation.”

The course takes the form of a half day workshop aimed at informally increasing the awareness of participants in the migration of Polish people to N.Ireland, their experiences of life here, Polish culture and language, and how to reach out to Polish people living in the city for inclusive service provision.

The workshop is free, and will take place on Friday, October 5, 2012, 9.30am-1pm, at the Shared Future Centre (Derry City Council’s Waterside Office between Irish Street and Top of the Hill).

The closing date for registrations to the course is Friday, September 28, 2012 – maximum 2 places per organisation. If you require any additional information, please contact Laura Gibson at [email protected] or tel: 71365151 ext 8221.