Look what just came in from the printers! It’s our new book ‘Face to Face’ created by children in Sligo. It captures children’s stories about their experience of the pandemic and public health restrictions. The project is also framed within a wider lens of health and wellbeing, focusing on the children’s local environment and sense of community.

In December 2020 and June 2021, Kids’ Own had a unique opportunity to engage with children across County Sligo – in three schools and one group of families – to find out about their experiences of Covid–19, and to ask them what they wanted for the wellbeing of their communities. Working with an artist and a writer, they developed colourful and imaginative landscapes and spoke about what is important in their lives. Through the voices of local children, this book celebrates the community of Sligo and sets out a vision for its future.

Participants include children from Cloghogue National School, Castlebaldwin, Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Sligo, and Sooey National School participated in this project, as well as individual families from the Syrian community in County Sligo, with support from Sligo Family Resource Centre.

This book was commissioned by Sligo PPN, with additional funding from Creative Ireland Sligo. We will be launching this book in the new year.