Reuben Hambakachere

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Cultúr Migrant Centre

Masters of Social Science in Community And Youth Work 2021, Maynooth University

I work in Cultúr Migrant Centre a Community Development organisation promoting interculturalism in County Meath and beyond where I have worked for 9 years.

We work using a community development approach with asylum seekers, refugees and people who have arrived in Ireland on different work permits, those who have found themselves undocumented and those living in direct provision.

My interest in Community Work began when I lived in Mosney and met staff from Cultur who gave us an informal Community Work Skills course. Something about how they engaged with us, their concern about us and the inclusive language they used really struck me. I also undertook further Community Development education with them and when I eventually got my papers I applied for and successfully completed the Masters in Community and Youth Work at MU.

While I had the lived experience of being marginalised and was passionate about the need for change I needed to enhance my own knowledge, skills and understanding to comprehensively challenge social injustice. I think my work is informed more by a clear process now rather than just passion and by a clear set of values and knowledge and how to apply them.

For me a professional community work education gives you a grounding in theory and practice, it gives you a trusted process and principles which are tried and tested and when you begin to understand the process you can really see the impact that applying it has with the communities we work with. My Masters in Community and Youth Work has given me the confidence to challenge policy and policy makers and has empowered me, given me confidence and improved my practice.