KASI Community Garden, Killarney

KASI (Killarney Asylum Seekers Initiative) set up in 2000 to support asylum seekers, refugees, migrant workers and their families; and facilitate their integration into the community, providing a warm and ‘homely’ social space, where people feel safe, respected and welcomed. KASI provides educational training and social and cultural programmes relevant to the needs of their target group. 

In addition, the group provides information, advice, advocacy, practical support and facilitates awareness-raising programmes on immigration and anti-racism issues.  KASI also promotes appreciation and celebration of cultural diversity, encourages interaction and integration of target groups into the local community; and aims to improve the link between target groups and local people, other service and support providers, community groups and local schools. 

Background to the project

KASI acquired a site from Killarney Parish for a community garden project. The community garden will provide a form of activity through volunteerism for asylum seekers in direct provisions who are not allowed to work.  The participants will focus on growing crops and developing the garden which will facilitate interaction between the target groups and local communities in a very holistic and ‘organic’ manner of working together, sharing and exchanging ideas, skills, crops, food and culture.

Overview of the Project

KASI is developing a community garden on the outskirts of Killarney town. The sedentary lifestyle in direct provisions can cause isolation, depression and other mental health issues for asylum seekers.  The community garden project provides a space for migrant workers and their families (most of whom live in flats and apartments and do not have access to a garden space) to grow their own crops.

The community garden project will provide training on organic gardening, nutrition, healthy eating habits,cooking on a budget, cookery demonstrations and an opportunity for participants to exchange skills, knowledge, recipes and food.  In addition, the project will enable locals to get information on nutritional values of herbs and authentic, healthy ethnic recipes. This initiative could also facilitate KASI influencing the diets and menu in direct provision centres. KASI will open a social space for training and cookery demonstrations for target groups and locals.

Objectives of the Project include:

• To develop their community garden
• To provide some sort of ‘occupation’ for asylum seekers in direct provisions, who are not allowed to work and experience isolation, depression and other mental health issues
• To provide a space for migrant workers and their families to grow their own crops
• To provide training in gardening, nutrition, healthy eating habits and cooking on a budget
• For participants to provide cookery demonstrations using seasonal produce from the garden
• To provide an opportunity for participants to exchange skills, knowledge, recipes and food
• To facilitate interaction between the target groups and local community

For more information please contact: Marilyn Counihan at marilyn@kasi2000.com.