International Garden Project Launch

Images by Clare Keogh

The Project

The project is premised on creating a ‘safe space’ at Ardefoyle Convent where families living in Direct Provision centres can create an International Garden to grow food from their own countries in solidarity with local community groups. The aim is to provide asylum seekers/refugees/migrants in general an opportunity to be involved in gardening work in cooperation with local members of the community towards supporting their wellbeing and integration into society. The objective is to work towards creating a network of gardens in close proximity to the DPs in Cork, that are independently run but in consultancy with a committee from this group. The model becomes the connecting tool within this network of communities and across other ethnic minority groups involved in community gardens.

The Launch

On Tuesday the 6th of September the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr. Deirdre Forde launched our International Garden Project at Ardfoyle Convent. We were joined by our partners and sponsors who have helped us on this journey to bring the garden to life. In attendance we had Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, Shane Clarke the former CEO of Nano Nagle Place, Nelson Abbey of Johnson Controls, Alison from Horticulture LTI at Ardfoyle, Maria Young of Green Spaces for Health, representatives from Remitly, SHEP, and of course the amazing gardeners who take care of the garden each week. It was a fantastic moment to celebrate the people that have given their time and resources to create this beautiful safe space of shared learning, where networks were formed and friends were made.

Media

To learn more about the International Garden Project check out the following:
International Garden – Cork-Migrants
(corkmigrantcentre.ie)


Cork convent launches garden project in solidarity
with refugees (irishexaminer.com)


Ground-breaking project to enable families to grow
food from their native countries in city (echolive.ie)


Foods from afar: Convent Garden project brings
migrants’ taste of home to Cork (echolive.ie)


In a lush city garden, migrant families are growing
food from their home countries – Yay Cork


Celebration and Official Launch of the Solidarity
Garden, Ardfoyle : Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of
Apostles (olaireland.ie)

Project Partners, Sponsors & Friends

Cork City Council
Food Policy Council
Green Spaces for Health
Horticulture LTI at Ardfoyle
Johnson Controls
Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of
Apostles
Remitly
SHEP

You can contact the office 9.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday via (021) 4193587 or (086) 0137616 for general queries about our services

Contact us to find out how to become a sponsor: Tel: 086 0137616 | Email: corkmigrantcentre@gmail.com