On Wednesday 11^th October 2017, in Avondale Community Centre, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.  I Smile International hosted an event, as part of the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This day is marked by thousands of organizations around the world who are committed to the fight to stop poverty.  I Smile International put on a spectacular event, inviting international guest speakers who came to use their voice to tell their stories and the stories of others who have either experienced or are still living daily with the often-devastating effects of poverty.  The effects of poverty and a reminder of how close each and everyone one of us are to falling prey to the poverty trap, was further highlighted by the drama ‘The Tunnel’ produced by Kule Animashaum and performed by the I Smile drama group. 

The event was opened by the chairperson Yvonne Foran who offered a warm welcome to all present and reminded us that for many women around the world poverty is more than just word, it’s a way of life.  It forms the very fabric of their society, creating moments of great sorrow as they lose family members to hunger, homelessness and disease.  On the other side of poverty there is community, laughter and family. These women have amazing stories to share, all they need is an opportunity to use their voice and connect with others using their smiles, for there is nothing more captivating than a woman’s smile whether she is young or old, her smile speaks a thousand words.  Her voice can melt the hardest heart and stir the greatest emotion.   

Our first guest speaker was Pierre Klien who spoke about the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty, what it really means, what its objectives and primary focus is, “To give people a voice” to bring about change and end world poverty. 

Pierre and his team, then delighted us all by asking us to take part in a photo shoot to promote a new symbol that is easily recognizable and most effective in the fight against poverty.  We were each given a cut out hand, from an assortment of colours with the words ‘Stop Poverty’ written on them.  We then lined up and shouted out Stop Poverty! Each one of us was inspired by the power behind these words.

Our second speaker was Shirley Clarke, Shirley shared with us her brave story about leaving America and a life that she was familiar with, to be reunited with her family who live in Ireland. Shirley explained that even though leaving America meant that she would be facing the challenges of uncertainty, learning about a new culture and having to face the prospects of finding work to support herself, that she was no stranger to meeting these challenges.  Growing up as a young child in a family that did not have much money and struggling to face the everyday challenges of life, had given her the strength of character that she would need to face the future challenges of her own life.

Shirley went on to explain that the one thing that her family shared was a love of music.  As a young child Shirley learnt to sing and play the guitar, as time went by Shirley started to write and perform her own songs for people outside of her family. Shirley’s talents were recognized by family and friends who encouraged her to cut a CD and send it into a radio station here in Ireland.  Her music has since delighted many listeners.  

To conclude her talk, Shirley took up her guitar and sang for us.  We were all so spell bound by how well she played and by the moving lyrics of her song, that we asked her to play another.