On Thursday 7th of November, Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project welcomed Uros Zivkovic, Bojana Visekruna and Luka Milovanovic from Serbian Diaspora organisation Tačka Povratka (aka ‘Returning Point’) to discuss how we engage and assist our respective diasporas.
Returning Point was set up with the assistance of the Serbian Government’s ‘Serbia Creates’ platform, an intergovernmental umbrella body in charge of global promotion of Serbia’s export potential in the field of creative industries, innovation, and knowledge-based economy. Much like Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project, Returning Point provide vital information and support to returning diaspora.
We first met with Returning Point four years ago, when the organisation was in its infancy and gathering ideas about how they might move forward. It was a pleasure to meet with them once again and hear about progress they have made in their work to establish and maintain networks and build bridges between the Serbian society at home and abroad through varied programs.
Niall Foster, our Policy and Outreach Officer, shared insights on our work with the global Irish community, how we foster relationships with government and diaspora organisations, as well as how our own work has altered in the changing global landscape over the past four years.
We were joined by Aoife McDonald from the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as well as Michael Palmese from the Citizens Information Board (CIB). Aoife discussed the Department’s world leading diaspora support fund: the Emigrant Support Programme, as well as assistance with local development through diaspora engagement, and how Ireland’s network of consulates and embassies work with local organisations across the world to support our diaspora. Michael detailed the Citizen Information Board’s excellent information resource for Irish citizens abroad; the Returning to Ireland portal.
Best wishes to Uros, Bojana, Luka and the Returning Point team as they continue their exploratory trip to Ireland and the UK, and we look forward to hearing about their future programs. Special thanks to Aoife of the Irish Abroad Unit, and Michael from Citizens Information Board for their excellent insights, demonstrating the strong relationship and supports Ireland has developed and maintained with its citizens across the world.
