Writer Mary Branley and artist Vanya Lambrecht Ward are working with 16 children from the Syrian community in County Mayo to develop a brand new book about their dreams and visions for the future.

Kids’ Own are delighted to be working in partnership with Southwest Mayo Development Company on this project, which is also generously supported by the St Stephen’s Green Trust.

The project got underway earlier this April with workshops taking place in the community workspace at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar. The children are enjoying meeting old friends first encountered in the Lebanon, two years ago, making new friends with children from the different areas and doing art.

Mohamad recently turned 11. This is his story:

Mohamad محمد
I am ten years old. I live in Claremorris. It’s a good place to live because there are lots of children to play football with. My birthday is on Wednesday April 18th. My Mum will make me a cake.
عيد مولد سعيد
eyd mawlid saeid
Happy Birthday in Arabic
We have a lovely lake in Claremorris and we walk and cycle around it. Some people fish there and they get a lot of pike.
When I grow up my dream is to be a doctor in town and help people. I have two sisters, one born on Christmas Eve in 2017 Basma بسمة and she is only three months. She is a very good baby and doesn’t cry a lot. She is very cute. She likes to play a lot with her hands, and she is always smiling. Her name Basma means smiling.

Watch this space for more updates on this work and to see how the children’s book develops!