Showing Up 2019: Housing and Home
Testimonials
"It was a really special experience. I'm appreciative of having the opportunity to meet and mix with people whose experience of life is so different to mine. In the absence of such experiences it's possible we use only our minds and rarely our hearts when contemplating causes and solutions for homelessness in Ireland. I'd love to think our policy makers and politicians could also engage through such mediums so as to ensure our solutions are humanised and compassionate." Deirdre K.
"To do the Showing Up Retreat is the best decision I've made in 2019. I have felt ashamed and a lot of guilt about all the homelessness in our city. Moving back to Dublin recently and seeing how bad the situation was with fresh eyes - I felt shocked. It surprised me how quickly the shock & fear overwhelmed me which resulted in this unconscious choice to block it out so that I could get on with my life. I thought that I could give some young homeless girl a fiver and then I could tick "homelessness" off my guilty conscience list ... The Showing Up Retreat gave me a space & a structure to have the courage to safely have a look again and allow myself to see what is actually happening around us." Erica B.
"A wonderful day with so many parts to it. I really enjoyed the group aspect to the day; sharing the experience with these different people. I was more observant of people on the streets afterwards; seeing the individuality more, rather than a 'generic' homeless person." Nuala R.
"I felt I was in a safe and supportive group even though I had never met any of the group prior to this evening. I gained a lot of perspective internally and externally from the evening and would feel i would like to experience more time engaging in socially mindful groups in the future." Natacha D.
"Overall this was a valuable day held very sensitively by Niamh. I really enjoyed sharing this with the group. A day for anyone who wants to broaden their perspective on the beautiful city we inhabit and with courage to be willing to look at the shadow and marginalization that is part and parcel of life in Dublin." Mary O'C.
