Development Education – one of the priorities of Irish EU presidency?

Next Wednesday, Oct. 31, Irish MEP Ms. Phil Prendergast will visit constituents in the new premises of KADEs Kerry One World Centre (5 Friary Lane Tralee, Co. Kerry). She will also discuss the recent EU declaration on Development Education signed by 398 MEPs and the upcoming Irish EU presidency. 
 
This summer, the European Parliament adopted a written declaration on “development education and active global citizenship” with a strong majority of 398 MEPs signing. This declaration calls upon the Commission and the Council to develop a long-term, cross-sectoral European strategy for Development Education (DE), awareness-raising and active global citizenship and also calls upon the Member States to develop or strengthen national development education strategies. The adoption of this declaration is a great success for the DARE Forum (Development Awareness Raising and Education Forum – one of the core-working groups of CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development and Relief NGOs). But it is necessary to keep in mind that this declaration is communicated to various institutional actors (including at member states level) and they have no obligation to take any further action because the political influence of such an instrument is weak and is not legally binding.
 
One of the actions (suggested by the DARE Forum) was to identify political figures and involve them in the discussion about the recent EU declaration and Irish EU presidency in regard to development/DE issues. The Coordinator of Kerry One World Centre (KOWC), operated by Kerry Action for Development Education (KADE) invited southern region MEPs to come and meet with KOWC Board of Management and staff. The meetings will be an opportunity to raise awareness of Development Education and especially KOWC, which provides support for teachers, trainers and learners engaging with global development issues and integrating DE into their activities in Kerry region.
 
Ms. Prendergast had been working as a nurse in Ireland and the UK before she joined Ireland’s Labour party in 1985. She felt the best way of working with others to make things better was through politics. Her current position as MEP sees her focused on main policy areas affecting Ireland, e.g. EU support for the Irish economy, EU budget, EU funding, and also environmental protection, civil rights and equality (including education, public health and social services).
 
KOWC has prepared an intensive programme for Ms. Prendergast’s half-day visit: welcome and introductions by Chairperson, Board, staff & EU Grundtvig Assistants, then a presentation on KADE/KOWC (1993 – 2012) and KOWC website review. There will then be a case study of KOWC’s Grundtvig in-service training course by trainer Isabelle Dumont and discussions on the EU Declaration on Development Education and on the upcoming EU Irish Presidency (supported by web-clips from Irish NGDO body Dochas’ campaign “World We Want”).