Youth Work Ireland film features young people in Direct Provision

Youth Work Ireland Film – Pamela Uba, Miss Ireland 2021, Róisín Buckley, Director of Piquant Media, Joe O’Brien, Green Party TD and Minister of State and Brian Dawson, Head of Strategic Engagement for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission at the launch of “Waiting, Waiting, Waiting”.

The Direct Provision system is currently being re-structured by the Irish government and, so far, young people’s opinions have not been sought

Youth Work Ireland, the largest youth organisation in the country, commissioned Limerick-based creative agency Piquant Media to produce a short film series where young people who have lived in Direct Provision could tell their stories and share their experiences.

‘Waiting, Waiting, Waiting’ was launched at the Irish Film Institute, Dublin, by Minister of State Joe O’Brien and was introduced by 2021 Miss Ireland Pamela Uba. 

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Ireland’s reception system for asylum seekers is known as Direct Provision and sees people accommodated in communal centres or former hotel-style settings across the country.

The system is currently being re-structured by the Irish government and, so far, young people’s opinions have not been sought.

Youth Work Ireland collaborated with youth services throughout the country, including Limerick Youth Service, to document the experiences of ten young people living in Direct Provision. Those who took part in the film project are living in, or have lived in, Direct Provision centres in Limerick, Mallow, and Longford.

Limerick-based participant Kimberly Justen said of the film series, “I know many young people are going through the same thing as me but I hope we can change the system for other young people. This video platform gave us the opportunity to voice what we couldn’t say.” 

Speaking at the film launch, Gina Halpin, Head of Information and Inclusion at Youth Work Ireland, said, “We need to work together to do more to support young people. Youth Work Ireland aims to get this film in front of as many people and government departments as possible to ask them to end Direct Provision.”

A federation of twenty Member Youth Services and a National Office, Youth Work Ireland supports, empowers, inspires, and educates young people through the delivery of best practice youth work services. The ‘Waiting, Waiting, Waiting’ film series was funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

For more information on Youth Work Ireland, go HERE

For more stories on Direct Provision, go HERE