In Conversation with Jeanne McDonagh
By Connor Robertson
In a recent report by the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation, half of the country’s 50 largest companies were found to be falling short of human rights benchmarks. However, there is hope. A growing number of businesses are not only meeting these standards but are leading the charge in creating opportunities for people who have long been excluded from the workforce. One such organisation is the Open Doors Initiative, an innovative social enterprise that’s helping marginalised groups, including the Traveller community, gain access to employment and entrepreneurship. I sat down with Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative and had a chat about who they are, what they do and how they’re helping. Founded in 2018, the Open Doors Initiative is a collaboration of companies and NGO’s with a shared commitment to providing employment, education and entrepreneurial opportunities to individuals from marginalised backgrounds. It aims to address barriers that prevent these individuals from entering the workforce, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
As Jeanne McDonagh explains, the Open Doors Initiative’s focus on creating a truly inclusive workplace requires more than just checking boxes. It’s about seeing the inherent potential in people from all backgrounds and treating them as equals, “I don’t call it human rights, I call it humanity” she states. “We’re all people, it’s how you get on with people and how you view people. When you view everyone as equal.” This philosophy is at the core of their work, where marginalised individuals are not seen as charity cases but as potential employees who bring valuable skills to the table.
The Open Doors Initiative was born out of McDonagh’s experience with Diageo’s ‘Learning for Life’ program, which provided education and employment pathways to people in direct provision. The success of this program led McDonagh and 13 other companies to form the Open Doors Initiative in September 2018. The initiative has since made significant strides in helping marginalised individuals gain meaningful employment.
To date, the initiative has made a huge difference, having helped more than 100,000 people through its various programs, offering support in education, employment, and entrepreneurship. “We’ve helped 213 people start their own business, and we’ve helped 682 people secure long-term internships, and we’ve helped 6,895 people into jobs and 108,575 people in total.”
Beyond just providing job placements, the Open Doors Initiative focusses on equipping individuals with the skills they need to succeed in their careers. This includes everything from CV writing and interview preparation to business development and soft skills training. By addressing both the technical and personal aspects of employment, the initiative ensures that participants are well-prepared to navigate the workforce.
The success of the initiative is also a testament to the power of business partnerships. While many companies struggle to integrate human rights into their practices, McDonagh believes that those who succeed do so by treating all employees with respect and dignity.
“They don’t see difference. They’re not othering people. They’re seeing them as potential employees…on an equal basis with any other employee they hire.”
This focus on diversity is essential, especially given the barriers that marginalised individuals face in the workplace. As McDonagh points out, many people from marginalised communities are often written off by employers due to assumptions about their abilities or lack of experience. But these assumptions can be overcome through education and awareness. McDonagh stresses the importance of companies learning about their employees, “They (companies) need to educate themselves and inform themselves about different groups and what accommodations, if any, need to be made”.
Through partnership with organisations like Pavee Point, the Open Doors Initiative is actively working to educate businesses about the specific challenges faced by the Traveller community, particularly in relation to employment. By constantly upskilling themselves, McDonagh and her team are able to understand and address the unique barriers that exist for these communities. “We’re constantly trying to upskill ourselves to realise what barriers people are facing” McDonagh says. “What are the cultural issues? How do we overcome them? How do we get people to attain what they want to attain?” Jeanne stresses that the need for diverse inclusive workplaces is more urgent than ever. “One in five people in Ireland was not born here…22% of the population have a disability. We all know someone, or have a family member or have a friend or have come into contact with someone from those two groups alone.” Businesses need to recognise that people from marginalised communities are a vital part of the workforce.
The Open Doors Initiative’s work has shown that when marginalised people are given the right support, they not only contribute to the workforce but help businesses thrive. McDonagh is adamant “Work can be a great leveler…it’s equal and you’re there to do skills that people want.” This ethos is what drives the Open Doors Initiative, and it’s a message that resonates with many companies. Through education, mentorship, and a commitment to inclusion, businesses can play a pivotal role in creating an equitable future for all.
If you’re a member of the Traveller or Roma community and are interested in working with The Open Doors Initiative you can reach out to them at info@opendoorsinitiative.ie or visit their website at www.opendoorsinitiative.ie
