SECA promotes Human Rights and Anti-Racism
International Human Rights Day on Monday 10th December marked the beginning of Human Rights Week 2007. To mark the occasion, SECA organised a seminar at Holy Cross College on Ethnic Diversity, Equality and the important role of SECA in the local community.
Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It declared that the “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” It could arguably be called the birth of the modern human rights movement.
Source: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
On 20th November 2007 SECA also organised a one day training course on Anti-Racism and Diversity. The course was led by NICEM (Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities). 13 people from various local community groups successfully completed the course which was funded by The Department for Social Development (DSD). Pictured below with their certificates are four employees of Strabane District Caring Services.
English Classes For Migrant Workers
Under the tutelage of Amanda Ferrell 12 students have successfully completed a 10 week English course which took place at the SECA offices in Bridge Street. The course took place between 22nd September and 1st December 2007 and was funded by Strabane District Council.
Chairman of Strabane Ethnic Community Association commented “Courses such as this one are becoming more important as Strabane becomes more diversified . This course will further the communication skills of the successful pupils here and therefore allow them to apply for a wider range of jobs and help them become part of the local community.”
Boxing Day
| December 26, 2007 |
Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom and most other Commonwealth countries on December 26, the day after Christmas Day;[1][2] or alternatively on the next weekday after Christmas.
There are disparate theories as to the origins of the term. The more common stories include:
- It was the day when people would give a present or Christmas box to those who had worked for them throughout the year. This is still done in Britain for postmen and paper-boys - though now the ‘box’ is usually given before Christmas, not after.
- In feudal times, Christmas was a reason for a gathering of extended families. All the serfs would gather their families in the manor of their lord, which made it easier for the lord of the estate to hand out annual stipends to the serfs. After all the Christmas parties on 26 December, the lord of the estate would give practical goods such as cloth, grains, and tools to the serfs who lived on his land. Each family would get a box full of such goods the day after Christmas. Under this explanation, there was nothing voluntary about this transaction; the lord of the manor was obliged to supply these goods. Because of the boxes being given out, the day was called Boxing Day.
- In England many years ago, it was common practice for the servants to carry boxes to their employers when they arrived for their day’s work on the day after Christmas. Their employers would then put coins in the boxes as special end-of-year gifts. This can be compared with the modern day concept of Christmas bonuses. The servants carried boxes for the coins, hence the name Boxing Day.
- In churches, it was traditional to open the church’s donation box on Christmas Day, and the money in the donation box was to be distributed to the poorer or lower class citizens on the next day. In this case, the “box” in “Boxing Day” comes from that lockbox in which the donations were left.
Source: Wikipedia
Christmas Day
| December 25, 2007 |
Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus’ birth with various customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals. Traditions include the display of Nativity scenes, Holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill, compassion and peace.
In most places around the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on December 25. It is preceded by Christmas Eve on December 24, and in some countries is followed by Boxing Day on December 26. The Armenian Apostolic Church observes Christmas on January 6, while certain old rite or old style Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, the date on the Gregorian calendar which corresponds to 25 December on the Julian Calendar. The date as a birthdate for Jesus is merely traditional, and is not widely considered to be his actual date of birth.[1]
Source: Wikipedia
