Waterford Integration Services

Waterford Integration Services Waterford Integration Services is a humanitarian NGO serving Refugees and those seeking International Protections in Waterford.

We provide drop-in facilities for initial frontline services which are then referred to specific areas of assistance or programmes within our organisation or link to other external services. We operate on an interagency/collaborative basis and have 17+ years experience of this work in Waterford. We provide advocacy supports to residents in IPAS (accommodation centres) and we offer remote, online,

advocacy and technical supports to others in Counties Kilkenny, Wexford, South Tipperary and Carlow when requested. Our Mission is to support the human rights and well-being of Refugees and persons seeking protection in Waterford and the Southeast. We exist to empower these people to become integrated in society through self-representation, Advocacy, Citizenship, Employment, Social Enterprise, Participation, Opportunity and Learning. We do this through programmes that;
- Promote human rights knowledge to access services and supports
- Support the development of coordinated interagency responses to education, social needs and intercultural health
- Promote and develop awareness amongst the general public of issues affecting migrant groups to aid integration and understanding
- Provide training, networking, support and direction to staff, interns and volunteers to build their capacity and knowledge base
- Source core and programme costs for the continued development of our work here in Waterford.

Just one more sleep to Africa Day 2026!Pop-up Library colourful and ready to go.Thank you Waterford Library for all your...
29/05/2026

Just one more sleep to Africa Day 2026!

Pop-up Library colourful and ready to go.
Thank you Waterford Library for all your support.

Storytelling tomorrow at 12.30 and 2.30pm (2 sessions) in WCQ Hub on O'Connell Street.

Come along, if you don't want a read we have plenty of opportunities for colouring.See you tomorrow.🌞

Getting ready now for Men's Health Week in June, post Africa Day celebrations which takes place this Saturday 30th May.W...
26/05/2026

Getting ready now for Men's Health Week in June, post Africa Day celebrations which takes place this Saturday 30th May.
Waterford Integration Services is delighted to be collaborating with the Men's Development Network on a range of activities in the lead up to Men's Health Week. This has been made possible through seed funding under the Slaintecare programme.
We are looking forward to getting outside in the fresh air with a trip to Waterford Greenway, taking in the scenery, lunch and an open air information session.
Thanks to Lorcan Brennan and Sean Cook from MDN for working so tirelessly with us on this initiative, Sunday Olaleye for working directly with migrant men on a peer to peer model of relationship and Blaise Mananga who was part of the initial planning phase to get this programme started. Thank you to the HSE who is supporting the Greenway trip and to Emma McQuire for supporting the application.
We are very much looking forward to continuing our Migrant Men's Health Programme at national level through other collaborative efforts in the near future.

If you are interested in participating in these health initiatives contact Sunday Olaleye at [email protected] or text on 087 417 9929.

JUSTICE FOR YVES SAKILA - Statement from INAR - Irish Network Against Racism. On Thursday we come together to demand jus...
21/05/2026

JUSTICE FOR YVES SAKILA - Statement from INAR - Irish Network Against Racism.

On Thursday we come together to demand justice for Yves Sakila.

The circumstances surrounding his death have caused deep shock, grief, and concern across Black and minority ethnic communities in Ireland. INAR is calling for a full and transparent investigations into all of the circumstances surrounding his death.

We are asking members to stand in solidarity with the family of Yves Sakila, the Congolese community, and all communities impacted by racism and racial injustice by joining the Unity Protest outside Leinster House.

Details:
Thursday 21 May
1 pm–3 pm
Outside Leinster House, Dublin
This is a moment to come together collectively and clearly to say:
Justice for Yves Sakila.
No one should die in these circumstances.

Statement on the death of Mr Yves Sakila

The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) is very concerned about the news that a man, believed to be Mr Yves Sakila, has died from suspected asphyxiation following his apprehension for an alleged shoplifting incident in Arnotts in Dublin on Friday 15 May. Nobody deserves to die for being suspected of shoplifting. Something clearly went terribly wrong. News of the tragedy is doubly shocking as some newspapers have reported that Mr Sakila is said to have “become unresponsive” after Gardai arrived on the scene.

A very disturbing 4m44s video has since emerged which appears to show the man on the ground being subdued by several men, who appear to be security guards and management at Arnotts. One of the men is seen to shift his weight onto his knee to drive it into the neck and head region of the subdued man. The man on the ground is heard shouting in distress as several men are kneeling on his body and the men shout several times for him to “stay down” while holding his neck and pinning his body to the ground with their combined weight. By the end of the 4m44s video we have seen, the man appears motionless. Gardai do not appear to have arrived on the scene at this stage.

Shane O’Curry, Director of INAR said “At INAR we are extremely disturbed by the reports of the incident, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Sakila. We are very concerned that this case appears to have the hallmarks of a case of excessive use of force. The death of a black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying, and we urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances leading to this man’s death, in order to ensure minority ethnic community confidence in the criminal justice system.”

Monday 18 May 2026. Dublin.

INAR's work is made possible by:

Africa Day Waterford - Saturday 30th May.Not long to go now, let's hope for fine weather. Some information below on the ...
21/05/2026

Africa Day Waterford - Saturday 30th May.

Not long to go now, let's hope for fine weather. Some information below on the national press release for Africa Day.

Please get in touch if you would like to display African items on the day so we can support your efforts.

Let's get as many African nations to participate as possible.

Our thoughts are especially with the Congolese community here in Ireland and Waterford at this time.

Africa Day 2026 programme of events announced
Africa Day Waterford will take place on Saturday 30 th May 2026

The Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora at the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, Neale Richmond TD, has announced the nationwide programme of events for Africa Day 2026.

This year’s Africa Day Waterford is taking place Saturday 30th May 2026 in the Cultural Quarter of Waterford City - O'Connell Street.
As part of Africa Day Waterford the following events will take place between 11am and 5pm:
Music and DJs
Nore Valley Petting Farm
Craft Markets
Mayor’s Speech
Pop Up Library
Playful Streets
Facepainting
Wobbly Circus
Southeast Craft Workshop
Africa Day will be celebrated with a series of events taking place nationwide. Local Authorities across
Ireland are set to host a range of cultural, artistic, and family-friendly events. These will include
contemporary African Irish cultural events, as well as family fun days, fashion, art, film, music, dance
and food events, which will take place in towns and cities across Ireland.
Minister Neale Richmond, said: “Africa Day is an opportunity to promote the growing trade, political
and cultural links between Ireland and countries across Africa. The potential for this relationship
over the coming years is enormous. Trade between Ireland and countries across Africa stands at
approximately €9 billion annually and is growing all the time. Ireland’s agri-food exports to Africa
alone rose by 9% last year and are now worth almost €1 billion annually.
“Africa Day marks these growing connections between Ireland and countries across Africa. It
celebrates the impact people in Ireland have had across Africa as well as the huge contribution
people with African heritage make to our cities, towns and villages each and every day. I’m delighted
to see so many of our local authorities host events across the country to help build knowledge and
celebrate our links and its potential in the years ahead.”
All Africa Day events are listed on the website: www.AfricaDay.ie
Instagram - and Facebook - Africa Day

ENDS
May 2026

Contacts:
Waterford City and County Council
[email protected]
About Africa Day 2026:
 Africa Day is an international day that commemorates the foundation of the Organisation
of African Unity in 1963. It falls on 25 th May each year but will be celebrated at events
throughout the month of May.
 Thirty-one local authorities will stage events and activities to mark Africa Day 2026. Events
will take place nationwide; these events will be listed on www.AfricaDay.ie and updates
on Africa Day social media channels.

15/05/2026

Short video from our Africa Day event 2025,

Getting ready for 2026 on Saturday the 30th of May.
Looking forward to seeing you all there from 11am - 5pm.
Mayor's speech and official launch at 12 Noon.

AFRICA DAY WATERFORD - 30th May 2026Things are ramping up for Africa Day which takes place on Saturday the 30th of May f...
14/05/2026

AFRICA DAY WATERFORD - 30th May 2026

Things are ramping up for Africa Day which takes place on Saturday the 30th of May from 11am - 4pm
Come and enjoy fun activities, music, market stalls and delicious food.
If you are an African Community and require a table to display cultural items please contact us in advance.

Performers and activities confirmed include:

Hanover Street Area:
Wobbly Circus
Nore Valley Farm
Playful Streets

O'Connell Street:
WCQ Stage,

Mayor's Address
Performers - Mercury Productions
Mada - Singer
Live Bands
DJ Hashadee
Market Stalls
Adex Kitchen catering
Kosa Catering
Ethiopian Coffee, breads & popcorn
Benedicth Mbala

Intensive English classes for WomenFollowing continued requests for higher level English to enable women to access emplo...
06/05/2026

Intensive English classes for Women

Following continued requests for higher level English to enable women to access employment opportunities, Waterford Integration Services are providing an English Language Summer School which will be delivered in block format.

Places are limited so get your application in now.

Intensive English Classes for
Women
Contact Siobhán
[email protected]
or call the WIS Office on 051 575000

Africa Day Waterford 2026 - 30th May.Calling all community groups and African diaspora, we are now planning for the 2026...
30/04/2026

Africa Day Waterford 2026 - 30th May.

Calling all community groups and African diaspora, we are now planning for the 2026 Africa Day activities.

We have an online meeting today (Thurs 30th) at 2pm.
Please email us if you need us to share the link for the meeting on [email protected]

29/04/2026

Reminder that Thursday 30th of April is national voter registration day.

Address

WCQ Place, 16-18 O’Connell Street, X91 KVN9
Waterford

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4am
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 1pm

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