Activity Nine: What’s It Worth? Life in Direct Provision) 10

Activity 9

What’s It Worth?

Aims:

• To introduce Direct Provision as the current model in Ireland for hosting Asylum

Seekers. • To facilitate the group to reflect on the spending habits of the average teen in

Ireland and to contrast that with a young Asylum Seeker.

Age: 10+

Time: 80 Mins

Goals:

Materials: Flipchart paper, Marker, Pens, A4 paper.

Facilitators should be very mindful of whether there is someone in the group who is currently in Direct Provision. Whereas it might bring added value, this should be sensitively negotiated with the person before doing the workshop.

Step 1: Divide the group into smaller groups and give them an A3 or flipchart page. Each group are asked to draw the outline of a person who will represent the average 15yr old in Ireland. Leave the inside empty and leave some space on the outside also. Step 2:Ask each group to decide what the person is “worth” by calculating the total value according to the following headings and any others they might want to add. It is important that they try to take it seriously and not go over the top either way. They must describe the item and write its value inside the graphic. • Clothes from head to toe including footwear. • Handbag or backpack that they would have. (What is in it and what’s it worth?) • What is in their pockets/purse/wallet? • Accessories (rings, hat, necklace, earrings, etc) Step 3: Now each group must decide what amount of money this young person would spend on average each week and write the details on the outside of the graphic. Do they have a job or do they get pocket money? (E.g. if they think €50 then they might mention things like, phone credit, lunch money, pocket money, transport, cinema, books, clothes, games, club fees like GAA, dancing, football, gym, etc.). Step 4: Invite groups to share what they have come up with and to give a total value to the young person they have created.

Step 5: Now ask the group if they know what happens when an asylum seeker arrives in Ireland? Explain to them that Ireland has a system called Direct Provision. Share the explanation below. Step 6: Now give each group a new piece of paper and ask them to draw a new outline on it. Explain to the group that the person in front of them now is someone who lives in Direct Provision. Remind them that this person receives set meals each day (no choice about what food), they have basic accommodation and health costs covered. Tell the group that a 15yr old in Direct Provision who lives with her mother would have €19.10 (adult allowance) plus €15.60 (child allowance) per week. Neither adult nor teen is allowed to work while in DP. So, a total of €35.70.

Activity 9

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Step 7: Ask the group to write on the outside of the character what sort of costs might come along at any time for the teenager that their mother might be expected to cover on their behalf (think about things like school costs, female sanitary needs, travel, buying a gift for a friends birthday, school tour, football or GAA club costs, hip hop club, etc). Encourage the group to be as thorough as possible. Step 8: On the inside ask the group to imagine what the young person might want to spend money on for themselves (some of above or other things like concert tickets, trip to Supermacs with friends, mobile phone, etc). Encourage the group to consider the average teen but also the extra pressure on teens in some regards and how that is connected to money.

Step 9: Invite groups to share what they have come up with.

Debrief:

• Did you know that this is what asylum seekers were entitled to? • Is this generous, mean, or the right amount? • Is this hard or easy to live on? • Do you think your family could survive on a similar amount of money? • Imagine if you/your family were not allowed work. What might be the consequences? • Does this situation fit into the world we want? Why?

Taking it further:

For more information on the campaign against direct provision in Ireland: • Irish Refugee Council www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/campaigns-policy/ latest-campaigns/direct-provision • More information: www.humanrights.ie/tag/direct-provision/ • A Rich Man’s World? Is a powerful resource to explore issues of inequality and injustice. www.youthdeved.ie/sites/youthdeved.ie/files/A-

Rich-Man%27s-World.pdf

more info

Direct Provision

Direct Provision is the accommodation provided to persons without means who are seeking asylum and permission to remain in Ireland, whereby they receive shelter and full board in accommodation provided by the State while their application for asylum is being processed. People in direct provision receive a weekly allowance for adults and children.

There are 35 Direct Provision centres around Ireland and in May 2015, there were 4,484 people housed in Direct Provision.