Change is slow and difficult, but possible

Three articles I have read in the past 10 days have really struck a chord with me and I can’t get them out of my mind. They really highlight just how complex social problems are and the innovative solutions we need to tackle them. The good news is, we are tackling them.

A recent article in The Journal, highlighted the terrible conditions that the community of Oliver Bond are living in. I know that area well, I have lived, worked and volunteered in Dublin 8 for a number of years. The great divide between those who have and those who have not widens and deepens daily. Coffee shops and new eateries are popping up at an incredible (welcome) rate. However close by, a community is left waiting in despair. You can read the article here

“Over 55% of residents have been told by a medical practitioner that damp, mould or sewage is contributing to ill-health in their families, according to campaigners, while over one in three (35%) also report sewage problems.”

Second article - The Currency (it is a paywall site, but well worth it imho!) released an indepth piece on social enterprise FoodCloud and their partnership with Rethink Ireland - it really brought home how Covid-19 has created food poverty for some many. Thank goodness FoodCloud were ready to #scale and could meet the unprecidented demand. The logisitics behind their scaling is complex, innovative and brave. It is clear FoodCloud couldn’t have done this on their own, collaboration was key. You’ll find the piece here

“It may seem like a simple concept, but it is a demanding logistical jigsaw with thousands of partners in multiple locations and huge volumes of orders.”

FoodCloud is supporting hundreds of charities to address food poverty, however it is also creating significant change on the negative impact of food waste. Check out their recent report “Re-imagining Food Waste”

“FoodCloud are determined to tackle these challenges [societal, environmental and economic challenges caused by the pandemic] head-on as they simultaneously work towards their 2030 vision for a more sustainable, less wasteful food system where a global food sharing network supports the security and resilience of local communities.”

So who benefits from FoodCloud? One example is, *Solas Project an incredible charity, that run programmes in Dublin 8 supporting the very children who live in Oliver Bond and the surrounding area of South Inner City Dublin. They highlighted the impact their collaboration with FoodCloud has, how it ensures 35 children get a warm hot meal daily. You can read the post here.

Reading these articles in the past days made me very sad there are so many people struggling on my doorstep, less than 2km away from where I write. Yet I am grateful that help is on hand through Solas Project, who are being supported by FoodCloud and FoodCloud is being supported by Rethink Ireland, who are in turn supported by our government and our tax money. It’s a welcome cycle.

Addressing social issues is complex, they can be deep-routed and challenging but that doesn’t mean that it cannot be done, infact it must.

* Note: I was previously an employee of Solas Project