News February 2003

Other Stories this issue

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Citizen Traveller - Muzzling Criticism

Disappointment and anger can only describe the wind-up of Citizen Traveller, after 3½ years of what the Taoiseach himself described as a 'worthwhiel and positive campaign.' Despite the re-commitment to the campaign in the Programme for Government, Citizen Traveller has now ended.

The campaign was suspended in July of thiis year after it decided to run with an outdoor advertising campaign which highlighted the negative impliucations for Travellers in the recently introduced Tress pass Legislation After a lengthy evaluation which commended the campaign on its achievements the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform ordered the end of the campaign.

Over the three years that Citizen Traveller was involved in some innovative initiatives like Traveller Focus Week, outdoor advertising , radio adverts and media training for local grouppps. Until June of 2002 the campaign was supported well by the government and the wider public as iyt was identified that something needed to be done to counteract negative coverage that Travellerss receive through the Media.

At present the  government is looking for submissions for a replacement for Citizen Traveller. ITM will be making a submission in early February 2003 and wold welcome any suggestions from our members.

Email or post any suggestions to Catherine Joyce at the ITM office.
 

'Unheard Voices' is an intercultural publishing initiative to develop books created with young people experiencing disadvantage, discrimination or isolation. Kids' Own Publishing Partnership is working alongside a number of different organisations to develop projects that will result in a range of vibrant publications: 

• A book about journeying, researched, collected and written by children
• An intercultural book of rhymes from the community researched and collected by the children
• A Pictionary of Cant (Traveller for younger children)
• An accompanying guide and video for teachers

There are insufficient intercultural resources for children produced in Ireland; while there is a demand for these resources from teachers faced with cultural diversity in classrooms. 

'It is clear from educational research that education predictably serves some sectors less well than others, namely, poor people, people of colour, and minority children of all groups. In Ireland there is substantial evidence that shows that children of our native ethnic minority Travellers, and students from low income families, are substantially over represented among those who experience academic problems and school failure.'  Anne Rath Ph.D,   An Education for Diversity.

This project is built on the experience gained from two recent projects with children from the Traveller community that resulted in the publications 'Charlie Barley and all His Friends' and 'A-Z and Back Again'. 

The resulting publications will form valuable resource material for professionals promoting intercultural education in Ireland, as well as fun reading material for any child.  It will actively involve children (Traveller, settled; non-nationals and nationals; children of colour and indigenous Irish), and their teachers and communities in determining the content of these publications based on their experiences and backgrounds.

You can follow the development of this project or order publications at www.kidsown.ie or write for details at Kids' Own Publishing Partnership, Kingsfort Studios, Ballintogher, Co Sligo. Ireland
 

The Traveller Education Committee of the Southside Partnership in Dublin has as its core purpose to advance issues, which will have a positive effect on the participation of Travellers at all levels of the education system. 

Following extensive research and the Committee's publication of the report 'Moving on,' which highlights the need to promote and foster the participation of Travellers in the secondary school system; the group initiated a pilot project aimed at retaining young Travellers in the education system. The Committee identified many of the issues preventing young Travellers accessing second level education, including discrimination against Traveller culture within the system and a lack of transport.

The specific programme involved supporting four Traveller girls to transfer from two local primary schools, the Good Shepherd in Churchtown and Queen of Angels in Balally, to second level education in St. Tiernan's Community School in Balally. The Committee applied to the department of Education for funding for transport and they agreed to fund the project for one year for two girls who lived a considerable distance from the school and who would have been unable to attend without the provision of transport

The innovative element of this project involves the provision of an Education Link Worker by the Southside Travellers Action Group who liases closely with the children, parents, school and the Visiting Teacher Service. 

The link worker, coming from the Traveller community has a keen insight into Traveller culture and background and works to ensure that the school is aware of Traveller culture issues. The link worker also interacts with the principal, the home school liaison teacher, the girls and their parents, on a regular basis, to ensure that if any Traveller issues arise for the girls they have someone they can confide in who is from the Traveller community, and that cultural issues do not stop the girls progressing in education. 

Several meetings took place with the girls, teachers and the link worker before September to ensure every thing was in place before they started e.g. uniforms, books, transport, and a tour of the school. These were things identified that could become a problem for the girls if they were not sorted out before the start of school term.

The girls have progressed in the school since the start of September and are very happy in their new school environment and the ongoing support they receive from the Link Worker Programme.