UCC marks International Mother Language Day 2024

21 Feb 2024

For the second year, UCC marked International Mother Language Day as part of its annual Refugee Week.

International Mother Language Day, first proclaimed by UNESCO and later adopted by the UN General Assembly, underscores the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. For the second year, UCC marks this important date as part of its annual Refugee Week.  In Translating ethnographic writing on migrants and outreach work with refugees, Dr J.C. MacQuarie, a night ethnographer, one advocate, Roos Demol, and their guest, Pride Moyo, uncovered the importance of language in working with migrants and refugees. This panel will discuss the struggles of multi-lingual migrants and refugees relying on English as a second or third language lack of facilitation resources at work, school or in health institutions, in the country of destination. Julius-Cezar spoke about the difficulties of translating ethnographic research and writing about hidden and vulnerable populations, and how to make these visible to mixed audiences, Roos spoke about language as a tool in rapport building, feelings of belonging, and identity, and Pride Moyo spoke about inequities and inequalities, un/deservingness at the workplace, in healthcare or education of migrants and refugees.