Daoine an Domhan – Synge Street CBS

Why as a team did you choose to focus on this challenge?

We decided to focus on this specific challenge as it is one near and dear to our hearts. We both are great friends with people who have experienced discrimination for reasons which escape their control. We firmly believe in order for humanity to progress, we need to stand united together in a world where people are not attacked for their race, religion, gender, sexuality, gender etc. While we certainly can't eliminate racism or sexism from the world, we can help those who have been negatively impacted by discrimination. That is our goal. We look forward to working with a mentor.

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What do you know now about the challenge that you didn't know before?

We have discovered about a variety of groups around the world who are being discriminated against as we type this. One primary example which stuck out to us were the Ughuyr people in Xianjiang. We flew down a rabbit hole of Research when we first caught wind of this. The Ughuyr people are an ethnic Turkic group in Western China. The Chinese government has set up eradication camps in their native land of Xianjian in an attempt to massacre them. The horrors they experience are truly terrifying and we wish to spread awareness regarding their suffering by the Chinese government.

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What have you learnt about your Hero?

Firstly, we don't like the idea of a singular hero, even if it may be metaphorical. The whole point of diversity and inclusion is learning and understanding a multitude of individuals from a flurry of different backgrounds, cultures, religions etc. Therefore, allow us to discuss our heroes. Our heroes are the silent suffering people. Those who are brutally attacked yet receive barely any assistance or attention from both governments and the general population. Examples are the Ughuyrs described above but also the Stateless Children of North Korea, Gay Arabs, Breton people, and numerous others who will hope to assist soon.

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If you could improve one thing for your Hero what would that be?

To imply a single thing could help our heroes lives is preposterous. The effects that discrimination has on these people can not be cured by a simple service or app or campaign. Instead, we need multiple platforms which can help them. We need a service where they can anonymously share their stories, a place where they can be themselves without having their fear for their lives, a campaign where we're capable of spreading awareness about the issues they face so they can receive more assistance. Most importantly, we need them. They very often remain hidden in the shadows from society.

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Do you have any ideas for a potential solution? No matter how raw, share them with your Mentors for feedback.

Our ideas are quite "raw" in terms of preparation. However, we have a concept of an online service similar in nature to "Queering the Map" and the "Human Libraries". The idea is a website where people can share their stories through multiple mediums, a written piece, a video, an animation, essay, any way they want! They can choose to be anonymous or reveal their identity. If they choose to be anonymous, no information regarding them or their lives will be shared, merely their story. We want this website to be made for them, by them and in support of them.

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Ask your Mentor anything …. This is a chance to ask your Mentors a direct question relating to your Big Idea.

First off, hello! We may not be familiar with you but thank you for taking the time to read our responses and respond. We hope you're doing good. Anyway, we'd like to ask what are your thoughts on our mindset? Do we have the correct mindset to takling this problem? Is there anything we can improve on? We want to hear from you, we like hearing raw opinions from others, it's why we chose this challenge in the first place. We rebel in diversity and change. We look forward to hearing your response and thank you again. Goodbye for now!

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