The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) is a national platform for organisations and individuals engaged in the provision, promotion and advancement of development education throughout the island of Ireland. For IDEA, development education is an educational response and process aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the shared development of our world. By engaging people critically in and with our increasingly interdependent world, development education aims to challenge global inequalities, and works towards creating a more just and sustainable future for our planet.

Our members come from different regions of the island of Ireland, they work in different sectors of society and have different views and opinions on how to engage the Irish public in development education. What they all share is the vision that their work will contribute to transforming the social, cultural, economic and political structures of the world and the fabric of our society in order to create a more just and equal future for all. IDEA’s aim is to support this diversity.

You can read more about our members in the "Network" section of this website.

IDEA’s work includes:

• Advancing and promoting good practice in development education
• Provision of professional development and training for educators
• Coordination of and support for development education on the island of Ireland
• Developing policy positions and undertaking advocacy to further support our members
• Providing links with development educators at international level
• Organisation of events throughout the island of Ireland.

History

The Irish Development Education Association has been in existence since September 2004. The Association grew out of calls from the Development Education sector for an umbrella association to represent them nationally. Since its inception, IDEA has been a member-led organisation with members actively engaged in the management and direction of the association. (See "National Council" below)

IDEA has been funded by Irish Aid since 2005. Currently, IDEA receives multi-annual funding from Irish Aid to implement its Strategy (2009- 2011). A review of this strategy will take place in 2010.

From January 2007 until December 2008 an Interim Director, supported by a part-time administrator, was appointed to the Association. Subsequently in March 2009 a full-time director was appointed. In July 2009 a part-time training and communications officer was also recruited.

Vision

We have a vision of development education which is strong, credible and vibrant and impacts on all sectors of Irish society

Mission

The Irish Development Education Association’s Mission is to:

• Encourage and co-ordinate good communications and cooperation at all levels of the development education membership.
• Promote a critical awareness of development education and encourage capacity building among the membership by:
• Identifying, developing and promoting best practice in development education.
• Promoting and encouraging an ethos of accountability and transparency.
• Develop the organisation’s capacity to a stage where it will be capable of representing and advocating for its membership with relevant government departments and bodies, nationally and internationally on the challenges facing development education, including ensuring development education is adequately resourced at a local, national and European level.

You can find our Strategic Plan, Annual Reports, Conference Reports and more in the section "Learn" on this website.

Who are the National Council of IDEA?

IDEA's National Council are members who are elected at the annual AGM to manage the Association together with the staff team. From June 2010- June 2011 the following members make up the National Council:

Chairperson: Patsy Toland (Self help Africa)

Vice Chairperson: Susan Gallwey (Waterford One World Centre)

Deirdre Murray (Comhlamh)

Mbemba Jabbi (Africa Centre)

Johnny Sheehan (NYCI)

Michael Doorly (Concern)

Sheila Dillon (Trocaire)

Heike Vornhagen (Galway One World Centre)

Anne Garvey (Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project)

Mella Cusack (Curriculum Development Unit)

Audrey Bryan (St. Patrick's College)

Jenna Coriddi (Centre for Global Education)

Carlos Bruen (UCD)

Bobby McCormack (Development Perspectives)