‘Building Voices’ shines light on issues linked to drug abuse

CLONDALKIN Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (CDATF) Community Rep’s Forum recently launched their ‘Building Voices’ project in Vue Cinema, Liffey Valley. 

The CDATF Community Representatives Forum is a group of local women who have come together over the last two years to highlight issues associated with substance misuse which impact their families and communities.

They collaborated with artist Sadhbh Lawlor to create the project and hope to bring it to task-force districts all over the country.

At the Mansion House in May, the group officially launched a training handbook and video, in what is thought to be a first across the 24 task-forces nationally.

“It has been a hugely successful project and process and captures the life of a Community Rep and how they got involved in community work and why they did so,” said a CDATF spokesperson.

The video illustrates a Clondalkin community from an aerial vantage point, and the viewer hears residents from different parts of the estate in the conversations and meetings they have held to make a change.

At the Mansion House launch in May, the group said they believe these tools could be used effectively in other drug task-force communities, a view shared by then Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy.

The Mayor of South Dublin County, Alan Edge, was amongst those in attendance at the VUE Cinema this week.

Cllr Madeleine Johansson (PBP), who also attended with TD Gino Kenny, said it was an “incredible event” that “showcased their art project Building Voices – truly an incredible piece.”

“The project shows how you can use community development principles to build resilience and to influence policy,” said Johansson.

Women’s Collective Ireland, Ronanstown, were “delighted” to attend the launch, which they said depicts “having a strong community voice to participate in local decision-making structures.”