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International Mother Language Day is marked in Dungannon with the launch of a new welcome booklet for migrant workers.
A new booklet was launched today in four languages to help migrant workers in Dungannon to access information about local services.
The launch coincides with UNESCO's International Mother Language Day (February 21) which celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity.
STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment Programme) has written and published the booklet called 'Welcome to Dungannon' as part of its support programme for migrant workers in Northern Ireland.
OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT
The 22 page welcome booklet is available in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and Portuguese - the four core languages of migrants in the area - and is one the largest jobs completed by STEP's Interpreter and Translation Service.
Contents includes how to join a library, ID needed to open a bank account, local council services, churches and a street map of Dungannon.
Roisin Donaghy, marketing and communications officer at STEP and writer of the booklet, said that the idea came from research at STEP's Migrant Support Centres where clients required simple information about everyday services and organisations.
Speaking at the launch she said, "This piece of work has the aim of helping non English speaking language groups feel more welcome, integrate and lessen the feeling of isolation felt by many".
"We live in a fairly non linguistic culture in Northern Ireland so the language issues surrounding migrant populations are something unfamiliar and complicated".
Ms Donaghy said she hoped that public organisations and service providers would follow best practice and examine their information to ensure that it is accessible to all members of Northern Ireland's changing communities.
MIGRANTS IN DUNGANNON
As a result of the thriving agrifood processing industries in Dungannon, there has been a growth in inward migration over the past few years.
The STEP Migrant Support Project offers a range of activities and services:
PICK UP A COPY
Copies are available in the local library, Citizens Advice Bureau and STEP Migrant Support Centre and can be purchased at STEP's Migrant Support Centre.
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