Today, we are thrilled to share our fourth volunteer story of National Volunteering Week. Join us as we journey through the inspiring narratives of those who embody the true essence of giving back. Here is Newton’s story
My name is Newton Barabara. I hail from Nigeria to Ireland as an immigrant seeking Asylum. During my transition period in the Citywest hub, and even after moving towards the accommodation center, I have been investing my time and talent productively to volunteer with UN Migration IOM Community Mobilizer Team from MHPSS (Mental Health Psychosocial Support) Project who conduct regular mapping of skills, talents and ideas among asylum seekers, applying for International Protection in Ireland. I led the Drama and Theatre group as a peer-to-peer support for the residents of Citywest.
As I came from a theatre and movie background, I used it as a tool for positive behaviour change and focused on real-life issues regarding youth, migration, poverty and addiction. I’ve worked with UNICEF and other international organizations in these areas. In order to fit into the project, I created a Theater group to motivate and educate the asylum-seeking residents of the Citywest Transit Hub, towards positive behavioural change such as cultural diversity and integration as well as expressing the disorienting emotions associated with newly arrived migrants. As a volunteer, I facilitated and directed the drama sessions weekly with other volunteer actors by going through the process of storytelling, story development, character development, casting, costume, props, and how to produce a play using improvisation methodology. Most of them act for the first time in their life. This support program is to aid asylum seekers to think positively and embrace change, encouraging and empowering one another during their transition into Ireland. My volunteering journey began with identifying the issues and bringing in solution based creative ideas with interest and intentions to give something back to society, making an impact and a difference in the lives of people, sharing my knowledge, skills, experience and expertise in using theatre and film as a tool for positive behaviour change not only to entertain but to empower, educate, sensitize and mobilize for development, as the stress, depression and psychological problems some asylum seekers go through are unimaginable. I believe the drama sessions help to heal and relieve stress and anxiety and create hope for the actors.
As an asylum seeker, we are escaping from something, so we need to persevere and hope for the best. That formed the theme of the drama, perseverance, and hope, and the title is “ESCAPE”.
I really enjoy seeing people learning new skills to drive development and self-discovery. Most of them act for the first time in their life.
To me, this is a very important and exciting opportunity, and the experience is incredibly rewarding. Volunteering should be born out of passion for development, something you want to give freely without expecting anything in return. We started the weekly rehearsals in June and had our first performance in Citywest on the 19th of October, 2023. It will go down in history – this is the first ever drama performance by asylum seekers in an asylum center in Europe, facilitated by the first UN Migration Community Mobilizer team in Europe and I stand in the center of that great initiative. I want to specially appreciate the South Dublin Volunteer Center, for making me understand the importance of using my skills to volunteer and the Community Mobilizer Team from IOM’s MHPSS project, for giving me the platform. I am humbled and honoured and will continue to give my best as long as possible.
