Solidarity in Action
Over the last few years, UCDVO has offered two evening courses for those looking to broaden and deepen their engagement with global justice issues and action for social change. Previously, UCDVO ran Be the Change and Skills in Development, both of which provided a space for UCD staff, students and alumni, as well as external applicants, to come together to learn about global development and social justice issues in a friendly, informal environment. Since 2024, UCDVO have run a new course Seeding Change in place of Skills in Development (and continue to run Be the Change).
Solidarity in Action took place in 2021, and built on the spirit of the spaces created in Be the Change and Skills in Development, providing opportunity for members of the UCDVO community to continue and deepen their exploration of the global challenges we face and how to best respond to them in our respective contexts. Solidarity in Action aimed to cultivate sustainable activism in participants. It was less focused on solutions and instead leaned into a deeper examination of the self and where that ‘self’ is situated within the global structures that support inequality. It was based on an education process that works to build stamina/resilience and integrity for long-term global citizenship and activism.
Solidarity in Action ran from March 18th to June 12th 2021, and 17 participants took part.
Solidarity in Action Publication 2021
Following the course, we invited participants to share their reflections from Solidarity in Action 2021. The purpose of the publication is to capture and share some of the unique learning and impacts for those involved. Participants were invited to submit material in a wide variety of forms - essay, reflection, poetry, drawings, paintings, photos etc.
The reflections in this publication touch on the value of stories; the generative power of vulnerability; what it means to examine where we are located within matrices of power; curiosity; the collective; connection with human and other-than-human worlds and the importance of relationships. ‘Solidarity’ was the anchor theme of this course and was embodied in the group’s engagement with each other and their communities.
Reconnecting with many of our alumni for this course was one of the great joys that we encountered and we continue to be inspired and energised by the people and communities we meet.
We hope you enjoy the reflections shared in this publication written by the course participants in response to their time on Solidarity in Action.
Many thanks to Concern Worldwide for their support through the Development Education Grants Scheme and to Micheal Doorly, Head of Active Citizenship at Concern.
