Community
DP Drops Limerick organise collections for local direct provision centers
DP Drops Limerick organise collections for local direct provision centers
The DP Drops Limerick team are linked with a representative in each direct provision centre who liaises with the residents to determine what essential items are most in need.
DP Drops Limerick was set up in late June 2020 by three Limerick residents; Connie, Olwen and Nicole have dedicated their spare time to organise collections for local direct provision centers. Direct provision is a system of asylum seeker accommodation in the Republic of Ireland. Currently, there are three direct provision centers in the Limerick area, home to almost 400 residents, including 60 children. DP Drops Limerick are trying to organise monthly collections around the Limerick area, under the guidance of DP Drops Ireland and Doras Luimni, an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation working to promote and protect the rights of people from a migrant background in Ireland.
The DP Drops Limerick team are linked with a representative in each direct provision centre who liaises with the residents, to determine what essential items are most in need. Common requests thus far have been feminine hygiene products, nappies, washing detergent, toiletries and nutritious non-perishable foods. This month the focus has shifted onto back to school supplies including books, uniforms and stationary,
DP Drops Limerick work closely with ‘Every Child is Your Child’ to make sure everyone’s backpack is full heading back to school this September after a long layoff. Every Child is Your Child works towards an ongoing fund for school needs and supplies and is a community group from Limerick, set up with the overall goal of raising much-needed funds for parents living in direct provision. Over 7,200 asylum seekers live in direct provision and 30% of residents are children.
The members of the DP Drops Limerick were shocked by the information being shared on social media regarding the direct provision system in Ireland saying, “While we were shocked about the system, we realised that there was no point in complaining about the system and that we needed to do something that can help improve the lives of the residents living in direct provision.
Our team all come from a background in education, healthcare and the charity sector so we were all too familiar with the inequalities in the system in Ireland.”
Bongani Sibanda, a resident of a direct provision centre in Limerick city commented, “I would like to take this time to express our gratitude to you and all those that donated as families here in Griffin house. All the families are so grateful and asked me to convey their gratitude. We managed to distribute it into eleven families currently living here and all of them were happy. May God bless you as you continue being a blessing to others. Thank you very much, may God bless you and everyone that donated.”
The DP Drops Limerick team added, “We have been humbled by the response of the local limerick people thus far and are struggling to keep up with our inbox on Instagram! This being said we have a lot more to do, lots of school book lists are still outstanding and there is constant need for essential items. Anyone that can help the cause in any way, we would be greatly indebted to them.”
If you would like to get in touch or would like more information, please contact the team on [email protected] or follow them on Instagram @dpdropslimerick.
For more info on the work of Doras Luimni go HERE
For more stories on Direct Provision go HERE
