Image: Zartis.com
Direct provision is a system in Ireland that was put in place in 1999 in order to provide accommodation and care for refugees seeking asylum. Direct provision was created as an emergency measure before large numbers of asylum seekers entered Ireland. The system has processed 12,000 asylum seekers since 2002 and due to large delays in case processing, thousands of refugees have spent years in direct provision without the right to work, receiving the paltry sum of €19.10 per week and often without the means to even cook for themselves. The system has been called "institutionalised poverty". In February, the Irish High Court ruled that the ban on the right to work for asylum seekers was unconstitutional. Asylum seekers can now seek employment, but only under the EU Reception Conditions Directive, which requires a starting salary of at least €30,000.
This week, two news stories have shown that the Irish people are trying to bridge the gap left in the supports provided by the state to asylum seekers.
Zartis, the recruitment software company, have launched LevelUp. They have partnered with The Digital Marketing Institute to offer a free Diploma in Digital Marketing to asylum seekers with strong communications skills.
They will also help successful graduates find a position with potential employers.
Secondly, RTÉ featured a story about a 14 year old Syrian girl who taught herselt to play the piano in 6 months using YouTube and the instruments and support of The Mosney Creative Arts Group, founded by Síobhra Quinlan.
Image: Alma Harrak
