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Up the Hill, Down the Hill is a vibrant, joyful celebration of home, place, and community—told through the voices and artwork of children living in Respond-supported communities across Ireland.
Up the Hill, Down the Hill is a vibrant, joyful celebration of home, place, and community—told through the voices and artwork of children living in Respond-supported communities across Ireland.
Created during summer camps in 2024, this book captures the richness and diversity of children’s lives today—from shared jokes to heartfelt reflections about family, neighbours, and belonging. With support from artists and writers, the children explored what “home” means to them and expressed it through drawing, storytelling, and collaborative play.
“I’m part of this community at Ard an Ghleanna for ten years. I love it here and have loads of good memories and friends new and old.” – Book Participant
These pages offer a glimpse into children’s lived experiences—multigenerational households, blended cultures, friendships made on green spaces and stairwells—all grounded in the feeling of being safe, valued, and included.
“At Respond, we believe that home is more than just a place to live —it’s a foundation for belonging, friendships, and opportunities.” – Declan Dunne, CEO Respond Housing
“A community is a group of people who do things together, like here in Ard an Ghleanna, or Tidy Towns. Respond is an organisation that has community-based supports for families in the area. They have homeless shelters too.” – Alex, Book Participant.
This project was made possible with funding from the Arts Council’s Young People, Children, and Education (YPCE) Project Award.
