Challenges faced by immigrant communities in accessing suitable employment compelled the Africa Centre to set up an initiative aimed at providing immigrant communities with advice and assistance in  accessing the job market in Ireland. It was from these foundation stones that the Employability Workshop was set up with help from a Department of Justice grant as a pilot project run in sessions from the Africa Centre. The project was a direct response to the growing needs of the immigrant communities for advice and assistance in accessing the job market in Ireland. Although immigrants often have high qualifications and extensive work experience, their progress is frequently hampered by barriers such as:

• Ignorance of the procedures involved in job search
• Lack of access to qualification equivalency services
• Language barriers
• Prejudice on the part of employers
• Lack of confidence
• Inadequate CVs
• Lack of contacts into the job market
• Ignorance of interview protocol
For this reason, the project offered two types of help:
• One day workshops
• One-on-one advice


Research has shown that this need is extensive and growing, and the experience of FAS offices, job centres, and charities such as Jobcare indicate that’s staff in such places are not trained or equipped to deal with the specific needs of the immigrant communities. Taking all of these strands into consideration and seeing a gap in service delivery the Africa Centre developed Sustainable Employment & Economic Empowerment Programme (SEEEP)

Sustainable Employment & Economic Empowerment Programme (SEEEP)

The Sustainable Employment and Economic Empowerment Programme is a FREE Dublin-based initiative of the Africa Centre. It is open to all individuals who are allowed to work and do business in Ireland.  To date our clients have included individuals from EU states entitled to work in Ireland and those from non-EU states with Stamp 4. Spouses of work permit holders and work permit holders as well as individuals on student visas are also welcome.

The main aim of SEEEP is to empower immigrant communities with necessary skills to enable them to earn sustainable livelihoods, and to participate informatively in the Irish economy.

Key offerings of SEEEP include :

Monthly informative workshops on relevant skills and topics  such as:
-Personal Budgeting
- Starting a business in Ireland;
- Proposal writing & starting a voluntary organization in Ireland;
- Writing a will
-Taxation
-Social Welfare benefits
-Employee Rights
-Immigration policy & employment

One on one sessions tailored to the needs of our clients every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 10am to 1pm (by appointment) . Sessions include:
-CV writing skills
-Interview skills
-Cover letter writing
-Coaching
-Online job searches
-Telephone job searches
-Work experience and volunteering searches

Topic of the next Sustainable Employment Programme; “ Starting Your Own Business”

Contact person: Eric Yao
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