2015 has been declared the European Year for Development (EYD).  The motto of the year will be “Our world, our dignity, and our future”.   The national co-ordinator of EYD, Dóchas, have established a multi sector network board to provide high level advice and inputs on a national level to Ireland’s work program.  Dublin City Council is delighted to be represented on this board, and contribute a design dimension  through Pivot Dublin.

To mark the beginning of EYD a New Year themed call to action is being launched.  People are being challenged to make a new year’s resolution to take some action in 2015 to help build a better world.  EYD are posing the question: ’What’s your #NewYearNewWorld resolution?’

“The new year is a new beginning and a chance for each of us to help create a new world.

What will you do to change the world in 2015?”

EYD will be officially launched on 22 January with activities taking placed throughout the year to encourage people to recognise their potential as change makers, and support people to take initiatives that tackle instances of global injustice.

To mark the beginning of the Year for Development a New Year themed call to action is being launched.

People are being challenged to make a new year’s resolution to take some action in 2015, however small, to help build a better world, and to publicise their resolutions on social media.  EYD are using the hashtag #NewYearNewWorld along with #EYD2015 and posing the question: ’What’s your #NewYearNewWorld resolution?’

The European Years have been organised since 1983 to increase understanding, promote debate, and positively change attitudes on certain issues at the European level.  The European Year for Development aims to change the way people in Ireland think about, talk about, and act on global issues.

The key aims of the Year of Development are

1.  To inform European Union citizens about the EU’s and the Member States’ development cooperation

2.  To foster direct involvement, critical thinking and active interest of EU citizens and stakeholders in development cooperation

3.  To raise awareness of the benefits of EU development cooperation.

A major ambition of the European Year for Development programme is to encourage people to engage with, and feel an influence, on global issues. It is important to recognise the potential as change makers, and to challenge any sense of apathy.

Dóchas has been chosen to coordinate the Irish action plan for the European Year of Development. As a membership organisation of over 60 Development NGOs, Dóchas is uniquely placed to mobilise people across Ireland, and provide inspirational examples of citizen action for a better world.

The European Year for Development will be officially launched on 22 January.