Longford event on International Poverty Awareness Day

Lus na Gréine Family Resource Centre in Granard hosted an event to mark International Poverty Awareness Day on October 18. This annual occasion is instrumental in promoting awareness of global and local poverty and rallying for actions to combat it.

Against the backdrop of a world marked by significant conflicts, Lus na Gréine FRC, in collaboration with the Granard community, embarked on a mission to raise awareness of both global and local poverty leading up to October 17.

The apex of this effort was reached on October 18 when the FRC organised a coffee morning and several presentations to underscore the detrimental effects of poverty, whether on a local or global scale.

Participants united in their calls for an end to wars and conflicts and, more importantly, for the alleviation of poverty, particularly in vulnerable families and communities, where children bear the brunt of these challenges.
This year, Lus na Gréine FRC concentrated on the theme of sustainability.

The FRC worked closely with the community, including refugee families, local schools, community groups, to discuss global poverty and to exchange knowledge and ideas. Students from the local Sacred Heart NS and adults joined forces to create and launch plans for a sustainable community garden at the rear of the FRC's new premises.

Recognising the paramount significance of sustainable practices in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the project highlighted a staggering statistic: approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic waste have been generated since the 1950s, with the majority of this waste still not properly recycled or managed. An alarming eight million tons of plastic enter the oceans annually, causing marine pollution that harms our ecosystems, animals, and even infiltrates the food chain.

Therefore, it is imperative that we continue to educate ourselves and others about the devastating effects of plastic waste and prioritise reducing plastic consumption, improving waste management systems, and promoting recycling and reuse.

The fully accessible and sensory garden plan will gradually come to life over the next year with the generous help of volunteers. As the soil is tilled and reclaimed, it will soon be a haven for birds, bees, tunnels, vegetable gardens, lush plantings, and even a water feature. This space will be open to all, inviting people to grow food and plants or simply to visit, sit, and revel in the beauty of nature.