Hellen arrived in Ireland in April 2023, bringing with her the confidence and resilience built over 18 years working in the finance sector. Yet, navigating life in Ireland’s international protection system quickly proved challenging-even when it came to the most basic needs.
“The struggle was mainly not knowing what my children and I were entitled to and how to access services and advocate for myself. We went months without a GP (General Practitioner),” said Hellen.
That’s when she joined the Know Your Rights programme, a free, eight-week legal education initiative delivered by DLA Piper Ireland in partnership with the Irish Refugee Council.
The programme is designed to empower people seeking protection in Ireland to understand their rights and advocate for themselves.
Participants explore a wide range of topics, including an introduction to the Irish legal system, data and cyber-security, consumer rights, housing law, employment rights, accessing the labour market, interview skills, public speaking, and access to healthcare.
For Hellen, that practical information was transformative.
She recalls, “Immediately after the last session, I had the confidence to write to them (Department of Social Protection, Medical Cards team) telling them I couldn’t find a GP in my area willing to take me on… a few weeks later I was registered with a GP, and our medical cards arrived. That really helped a lot.”
Beyond the facts and figures, Know Your Rights delivers what participants need most: clarity, confidence and community. “I felt a strong sense of belonging … I’m not alone. There are supports, people are helpful, they are friendly,” she says.
That sense of empowerment has rippled through her life-giving her the assurance to pursue other rights and opportunities. Today, she works as a social care worker while studying for a degree in Social Policy and Sociology at UCD.