Minister of State Lenihan opens ‘Africa Framed’ Photographic exhibition in UCD

Mr Conor Lenihan T.D., Minister of State for Development Cooperation and Human Rights, this afternoon opened an Exhibition entitled “Africa Framed” at the Faculty of Agri-Food and the Environment, University College Dublin.

The event is part of University College Dublin's 150th year anniversary celebrations. It has been organised by the Faculty undergraduates and the Agricultural Science Society to celebrate the multicultural student body in the Faculty and throughout UCD; to highlight the international links that the Faculty has developed around the world and with aid organisations. The event will also raise funds for the Irish Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Self Help Development International.

Self Help are putting on an exhibition of photographs which will convey the real pictures from Africa which challenge the negative images of Africa, focussing on positive aspects of developing countries featuring people in their own environment showing living traditions as well as reality of everyday life.

Speaking at the event Minister Lenihan said;

“We all here recognise the importance that agriculture plays in reducing poverty in Africa. 80% of the population of least developed countries depend on agriculture for their survival. Thus, agriculture must be a productive and profitable activity which will stimulate economic growth and development for these 80%.”

“The on-going challenges to us all as agents involved in education and development is to ensure that assistance is appropriately and effectively targeted at the rural poor, and that such assistance is designed that will directly meet the needs of the poor. I feel confident that the sort of collaboration which we see here today will help us meet this challenge in the future.”

The Minister also praised the work of Self Help Development International particularly recognising its strong links with the farming community in Ireland, and its pragmatic approach to development issues. He was happy to note that Self Help is one of five Irish Non-Governmental Organisations which will gain from a new partnership with Development Cooperation Ireland's “Multi-annual Programme Scheme “(MAPS) which will make €117 million available to these NGOs over the next three years.





Note to Editors:
The faculty of Agri-Food and the Environment at UCD has provided considerable technical expertise in agricultural and rural development to Development Cooperation Ireland. DCI for its part, through its Study Fellowship Awards Scheme has in the past ten years sponsored 235 people from developing countries for study courses in the Faculty of UCD.

+++ENDS
17 November '04
Press Office


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