Published 06.02.2025
by Kids’ Own
by Kids’ Own
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A children's arts organisation and publishing house.
As the twentieth anniversary of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is marked this year, Kids’ Own Publishing is collaborating with the OCO on an exciting creative project in Ireland, empowering children to explore and express their understanding of children’s rights. Through a series of workshops in Sligo, young participants have been developing a book that reflects their perspectives on rights and the role of the Ombudsman, using art and storytelling to bring these themes to life.
With just one session remaining, the project is reaching its final stages. Sarah O’Keeffe, an associate writer on the project, shared insights from the most recent session:
“We gathered for our second-to-last session with the goal of revisiting where we started. We explored the comic strips about children’s rights, and by adding to them, we uncovered new ideas and ways in which rights can be expanded. We also had a special surprise—a video interview with the Ombudsman for Children, Niall Muldoon! In earlier sessions, the children had brainstormed questions they’d like to ask him, which we sent to his team. He responded with a highly engaging video that included some fantastic answers. Time has flown by, and it’s hard to believe our final session is already next week. However, we’re excited to see what the children think of the ‘book design’ process!”
As part of this project, the children had the unique opportunity to ask Ombudsman Niall Muldoon their own questions about children’s rights in Ireland. His responses were captured in an engaging video, which will be included in this news piece. This interactive experience gave the children a direct insight into the work of the OCO and helped them develop a deeper understanding of their rights.
The project’s final session will focus on shaping the book’s design, bringing together the children’s creative contributions into a finished publication. Once complete, the book will serve as a valuable resource, highlighting the voices of young people and making children’s rights more accessible and engaging for readers across Ireland.
This initiative is proudly supported by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, as part of their ongoing commitment to amplifying children’s voices and ensuring their rights are recognised and respected.
Stay tuned for further updates as we approach the book’s completion and publication! Read more about the OCC here: https://kidsown.ie/kids-own-and-the-ombudsman-for-childrens-office-a-creative-collaboration/