Author: ATD Ireland

ATD Ireland's Leave No One Behind project is a particularly significant initiative in the current context of growing social, economic and educational inequality across the world. The project is part of an overall framework to combat poverty and marginalisation, seeking to promote inclusivity, social justice and respect for the fundamental rights of every individual, regardless of their origin, status or geographical location. In my view, this project is of paramount importance for a number of reasons.First at all, the Leave No One Behind project is based on a fundamental principle: everyone deserves an equal opportunity to flourish in society. In many…

What does support feel like to you? Read below a piece based on one of our Leave No One Behind Series 4 workshops.This wonderful workshop was carried out with a women's group which is a joint project of the Intercultural and Refugee Programme of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation and the Dominican Justice Office Ireland.Support is a multifaceted concept that resonates deeply within our lives, often manifesting in various forms and experiences. Many participants conveyed support as a vital component for personal and communal growth, emphasising the interconnectedness of self-care, a platform for empowerment and equality. The women in…

In 2015 the world agreed on an agenda of unprecedented ambition for the development of humanity and preservation of our planet. Central to this was a pledge to tackle poverty, inequality and exclusion. This was expressed, in particular, as a commitment by all 193 countries to “leave no one behind” and to try to “reach the furthest behind first”.Even if the rate of implementation of the 2030 Agenda is seriously off-track, the global solidarity and determination which gave rise to it ten years ago remain largely intact. The world may today be a more insecure place but our promise to “leave…

Did you know ATD have a European advocacy team based in Brussels?  ATD Fourth World maintains a permanent delegation to the European Union and the Council of Europe. The goal of our work on the European level is:• Alongside people in poverty, to develop policies that enhance the role of European institutions in the fight against poverty;• To create a forum where civil servants and European Parliament representatives can exchange ideas on their commitments to the fight against poverty, as well as encourage reflections with people in poverty about their role in building Europe (for example, the Intergroup “Extreme poverty and human…

[French translation below]As we begin 2025 we would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful new year.  We wish to share our deep gratitude with all those involved in our work in 2024 and all those who supported us in any way.  We made some very precious memories in 2024.  However we also acknowledge that this was a year where many of our members struggled deeply, and continue to do so.  It is our main priority to remain connected to families living in persistent poverty during these times.  We are proud of our collective achievements in 2024 and…

To mark the Christmas period we would like to share with you this beautiful memory from Community Activist Tracy, which she wrote in memory of her daughter Teresa.  Originally published in "Creative Pathways to Participation"- read here.  My favourite memory of one of my daughters Teresa is this one. It was coming up to Xmas and Teresa and Fran lived on the canal in a tent.Homeless, y’know? There were trees on the canal as well. My Teresa wanted to put lights on the trees y’know to have it Christmas looking.We got together a battery, one of them big ones y’know and…

On February 20th, 'World Social Justice Day', Community Activist Lorraine spoke at the launch for UNANIMA's 2025 'Hidden Faces of Homelessness: Global Insights and Pathways Forward' Publication.  Lorraine wrote a piece on homelessness and discrimination for the publication which you can read below.Read the full publication here.Watch the livestream of the launch, including Lorraine's contribution here. Thank you to Lorraine for her ongoing work with ATD Ireland, and for always using her voice to advocate for others experiencing poverty and discrimination.  Find more information including films, and reports about socio- economic discrimination on our new #Addthe10th resource page here. Thank you…

ATD Ireland really values the support of all our volunteers.  We could not carry out our work without them. There are many different ways to get involved and volunteer with ATD Ireland.  We have volunteers who support our admin, governance and family support work.  Other support us in fundraising and in our public projects.You many wish to get involved in a specific action.Our volunteers also include our Community Activists who fuel all our projects through sharing their lived experience, knowledge and wisdom.We also have many students and young people who carry out fixed term placements with ATD Ireland.Volunteering with ATD Ireland can…

Dear friends of ATD Ireland,We would like to thank you for your ongoing support. This Christmas we would like to ask you to please consider donating on a one time or monthly basis.Your kind donations will support our work in facilitating the voices of people in poverty being heard.Through home visits and weekly open house days we build trust and friendship with those experiencing extreme poverty. Through conversations, creativity and the creation of safe, non- judgmental spaces we listen and learn from each other, encourage people to find their voice and recognise their own wisdom, capacity and potential. We provide a…

https://youtu.be/fI0CNVydskE?si=bmAAQoBa6nK7hCDRAn event took place on Monday the 4th of November at Exchange House Ireland to celebrate the launch of a new film by ATD Ireland called “Community Conversations: Time for the recognition of socio-economic status in our equality law #addthetenth." The film focuses on the importance of adding the new 10th ground to the equality legislation to protect people from socio-economic based discrimination. It comes from the perspective of those with lived experiences of discrimination, academics and professionals working in the community and volunteer sector. The film aims to function as a call to action in order to finally get this…