Waterford Traveller Community Development Project CLG, operating as Mincéirí Port Láirge is a Traveller-led organisation established in 1995, becoming a limited company in 2003. The organisation engages in community development work as a means of achieving social change. Its main aim is to contribute to the creation of a more just, sustainable and equal society for Travellers in Waterford and throughout Ireland. Mincéirí Port Láirge is committed to working with all members of the Traveller Community in Waterford City and County.
The Management committee are made up of Both Traveller community and Settled members and direct the work of Mincéirí Port Láirge which works daily to improve the quality of life for all Travellers in Waterford. We also support national campaigns and work closely with our sister projects throughout Ireland on many issues such as Traveller ethnicity recognition, human rights campaigns, and health, accommodation and education and training opportunities for Travellers.
Our work is Guided by Community Development principles and the upholding of Human rights. Mincéirí Port Láirge works towards addressing Human rights issues such as poor, unsuitable, and hazardous accommodation are the main concerns that affect Travellers in Waterford.
1.1 Our mission
Mincéirí Port Láirges mission is to contribute to the improvement, quality of life, living circumstances, status, and participation of Travellers through working innovatively for social justice, greater solidarity, development, equality, and human rights.
1.2 Overarching aim of Mincéirí Port Láirge
The main aim of Mincéirí Port Láirge is:
To work in partnership with Travellers to create opportunities that build the confidence and skills of Travellers around identified actions which enable Travellers to bring about improvements in their status, life chances and living conditions, while respecting Traveller culture and ethnicity, using the community development approach.
1.3 Objectives of Mincéirí Port Láirge
Supporting our overarching aim, Mincéirí Port Láirge pursues the following objectives:
(a) to empower Travellers through various programmes, equipping participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effect change
(b) to promote the appropriate inclusion of Travellers in local development strategies (c) to support Travellers (collectively and individually) in their everyday struggles, and to lobby accordingly
(d) to network, to raise awareness and to build solidarity with relevant agencies and groups at local, regional and national level
(e) to develop and pursue an agreed strategy aimed at achieving culturally appropriate and acceptable accommodation for Travellers
(f) to develop solidarity between Travellers and settled people which respects the cultural identity and rights of Travellers.
1.1 Our mission
Mincéirí Port Láirges mission is to contribute to the improvement, quality of life, living circumstances, status, and participation of Travellers through working innovatively for social justice, greater solidarity, development, equality, and human rights.
1.2 Overarching aim of Mincéirí Port Láirge
The main aim of Mincéirí Port Láirge is:
To work in partnership with Travellers to create opportunities that build the confidence and skills of Travellers around identified actions which enable Travellers to bring about improvements in their status, life chances and living conditions, while respecting Traveller culture and ethnicity, using the community development approach.
1.3 Objectives of Mincéirí Port Láirge
Supporting our overarching aim, Mincéirí Port Láirge pursues the following objectives:
(a) to empower Travellers through various programmes, equipping participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effect change
(b) to promote the appropriate inclusion of Travellers in local development strategies (c) to support Travellers (collectively and individually) in their everyday struggles, and to lobby accordingly
(d) to network, to raise awareness and to build solidarity with relevant agencies and groups at local, regional and national level
(e) to develop and pursue an agreed strategy aimed at achieving culturally appropriate and acceptable accommodation for Travellers
(f) to develop solidarity between Travellers and settled people which respects the cultural identity and rights of Travellers.
