Vol. 24 #11 04 Apr. 2023
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Winner: Best Newspaper at the National Student Media Awards 2019
Student Independent News Nuachtán saor in aisce · Vol. 24 Issue 11 · 04 Apr. 2023
One of the events that took place was ‘Experience Africa’ organised by Vusi Thabethe and Thembela Lubimbi. Photo: Aengus McMahon.
The first Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week takes place at the University of Galway By Caoimhe Looney Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week took place from the 20 to the 24 March to mark the twenty year anniversary of Nelson Mandela being awarded an honorary degree from the University of Galway. To mark the inaugural Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week, the Office of the Vice President for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion awarded funding to 11 projects as part of the annual Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Project Fund. Twenty different events occurred over the week to allow people to learn and explore a wide range of cultures, races and ethnicities and start conversations about anti-racism. Vice president for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Galway, Dr Helen Maher said: “It’s important to note that this is the first week of its kind in terms of the University of Galway. “We had a particular emphasis on commemorating and remembering the awarding of the honorary doctorate to Nelson Mandela.” One of the events that took place was ‘Experience Africa’ organised by Vusi Thabethe and Thembela Lubimbi.
This event contained a gallery exhibition, Through the VR headset, it allows you afro food celebration and music and dance. to have a 360-degree view to look around This event was made to celebrate Afri- while watching the day in the life docucan culture and allow visitors to meet with mentary of the students. people from different African countries Another event which took place and learn all about their culture. throughout the week was the ‘Whist There were examples of traditional A Thary: Traveller and Roma Film African garments and headdresses, which Festival,’ which showcased films that people could be shown how to wear in the contained authentic and celebratory reptraditional way. resentations of the Traveller and Roma Speaking about the event, Vusi Tha- communities. bethe said: “We received some very This four-day film festival sought to positive feedback. It was very uplifting engage the University and the general and it was good to share some of our public in a discussion on how different unknown facts about our culture. ethnicities can be shown and celebrated “In the future we are hoping to host in and through media. another one next year if we are allowed The University also hosted the first to, and hopefully we can continue on this national HEA conference on Race Equalgreat initiative.” ity in Higher Education on 20 March to One of the events that took place was highlight the structural, institutional, and ‘Experiencing Direct Provision through historical dimensions of racism which the eyes of University of Galway Students informed past and current practices in (Virtual Reality Experience),’ organised by HEIs and the societies in which they are Eileen Kennedy. situated. This virtual reality experience showed a There were also a number of talks for short documentary about a day in the life the duration of the week about diversity of two University of Galway students who and inclusion and race equality training live in a Direct Provision Centre. for staff.