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White Ribbon Ireland and Men’s Development Network (as lead agent for the campaign nationally) were delighted to be part of ceremonies in Bishopstown and Tralee on April 27 as flag-raisings were held at all six Munster Technological University campuses in Cork and Kerry.
Speaking at the Cork ceremony, MDN’s Head of Programmes and Advocacy Colm Kelly Ryan, commended MTU’s collective vision and unwavering commitment to White Ribbon “as we step forward together in promoting gender equality and ending gender-based violence.”
He thanked MTU President, Professor Maggie Cusack (left), Professor Margaret Linehan, Siobhán Kangataran, Ellen O’Shea, and all the team at the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion office for leading the way towards becoming Ireland’s first White Ribbon University.
In his speech, Colm referenced our focus on advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence “in an innovative way – through transforming masculinities and engaging men and boys as allies”, as well as building allyship with women and girls.
Joyce O’Sullivan, who is a member of our Client Support team based in the Southwest, represented MDN/White Ribbon at the event in Tralee.
Recent research on workplace wellbeing was outlined at the Healthy Workplace Networking Seminar at the Department of Health Head Office in Dublin on Monday, May 23. Lorcan Brennan, MDN’s Training & Resource Development Manager, and Finian Murray, HSE Men’s Health Development Officer (pictured) were among those who attended the half-day gathering in the Department of Health, taking the opportunity to promote plans for Men’s Health Week, which took place from June 13–19th and was themed ‘MISSION: isPOSSIBLE’.
The Men’s Development Network has influenced policy on men’s issues at local, regional, national and international levels and has a proud record in multi-agency work and engagement.
The Men’s Development Network is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Waterford, Ireland, with the key focus on being leaders in promoting change and equality within society.
Approaching our work from a transforming masculinities and gender-justice perspective, we are marking 25 years of positive engagement with men, boys, women’s organisations, and other like-minded partners in 2022.
Under the mission statement “Better Lives for Men; Better Lives for All,” the Men’s Development Network interacts with men on various levels including one-to-one, developmental, parenting, behaviour change group work, training, phoneline support and awareness raising.
Our funded projects include the Men’s Development and Men’s Health Programmes, the MEND Domestic Violence Intervention Programme, the national Male Advice Line, and a Men’s Counselling Service. We also run many sub-programmes (see main menu) at local, regional and national level.
PICTURED: Clare Thoma, FarmConnect coordinator, and Dr David Meredith of Teagasc at its recent seminar on farmer health and wellbeing in Ashtown, Dublin. Click image for more about this event.
ON FEIRM GROUND — the new workshop series that equips agricultural advisors with the knowledge and skills to engage farmers around their health & wellbeing — continues its successful nationwide rollout in June.
Delivered online, the course is Unit 8 of the ‘Engage’ National Men’s Health Training Programme. Specialising in evidence-based best practice around connecting males with health and social services, the Engage model was developed to address the deficit in gender-sensitive service provision.
The Men’s Development Network worked with its Engage Training partners (namely South East Technological University, HSE Ireland, and Men’s Health Forum in Ireland) to prepare and deliver the course modules.
Originally intended for in-room settings but adapted to the landscape shaped by Covid-19, from February 2022 On Feirm Ground has been workshopped live online to frontline agri advisors around Ireland. It informs their engagement with farmers on health and wellbeing issues and in signposting clients to appropriate services.
Supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Dept of Health and the HSE (see here), the programme serves to mainstream a health promotion focus into routine farming extension activities.
“The feedback from the rollout of On Feirm Ground has been very positive,” says Lorcan Brennan, MDN’s National Training & Resource Development Manager. “It’s proving a versatile and rich remote learning experience. All involved are drawing much from the valuable and interesting content covered each day.”
Sessions are being facilitated by agricultural advisors in conjunction with key partners, including MDN and the HSE. Throughout February and early March, 10 online training days took place.
Registrations and academic research feedback are being channelled through the dedicated and dynamic engagetraining.ie website.
Mon & Wed: 10am-6pm
Tues & Thurs: 12-8pm
Fri/Sat/Sun/Bank Hols: 2-6pm
Our MEND Programme for men perpetrating relationship violence is taking referrals.
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Men's Development Network is a Company Limited by Guarantee. CRO Number: 307175 | CHY Number: 13634 | RCN Number: 20042974
