Project Type:
Inclusion, Equality, Youth Engagement
Participant Group:
Traveller University Students
Partners:
Whidden Project, TUS Athlone
Funders :
TUS Athlone Access Office Mary Branley, Maree Hensey
Date:
January 2025Mary Branley, Maree Hensey
Artists :
Mary Branley, Maree Hensey
Whidden Project Book Collaboration: A Creative Journey with Traveller and Roma Students
Kids’ Own is delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new project in collaboration with the Whidden Project, facilitated through the Access Office at TUS Athlone. This initiative will bring together a group of Traveller and Roma university students—many of whom have been part of the Whidden Project since its inception in 2020—to co-create a published book that shares their experiences, insights, and creative expressions.
The Whidden Project, established across five Higher Education Institutions in Ireland, aims to support and inspire Traveller and Roma students in accessing and progressing through third-level education. The name “Whidden,” meaning “chatting” in Traveller Cant, and “Kushti to Rokker,” meaning “it’s good to talk” in Roma, reflect the informal, participant-led nature of this initiative. This book project builds on these principles, offering young people a platform to amplify their voices through art and storytelling.
Project Goals
1. Creative Space & Expression: Provide a safe, welcoming environment for participants to express themselves, facilitated by professional Kids’ Own artists and writers.
2. Peer-Led Collaboration: Empower participants to shape the book’s theme and content, drawing from their own experiences and insights.
3. Building Confidence: Nurture participants’ confidence, resilience, and sense of community through meaningful creative engagement.
4. Awareness & Dialogue: Highlight the unique challenges and successes of Traveller and Roma students in higher education.
5. Publication: Create a professionally designed and published book that authentically represents the voices of participants, ensuring their creative work reaches a broad audience.
Project Approach
This project embraces a collaborative, participant-led process that mirrors the ethos of the Whidden workshops. Young people will have the opportunity to share their stories, reflect on their journeys, and explore themes such as navigating education, overcoming barriers, and the positive impact of peer-led initiatives like Whidden.
The group will work closely with a professional artist and writer from Kids’ Own’s panel, whose expertise will guide and support their creative development. Together, they will produce a vibrant and meaningful publication that captures the diversity and richness of their experiences.
Publication & Distribution:
– The final book will be professionally designed and printed, adhering to Kids’ Own’s high publishing standards.
– Copies will be distributed to schools, libraries, and community groups, raising awareness of Traveller and Roma experiences in higher education.
Why This Project Matters
This collaboration is about more than creating a book—it’s about amplifying voices, celebrating resilience, and fostering understanding. By providing Traveller young people with a platform to share their stories and art, the book aims to challenge stereotypes, inspire future generations, and contribute to a more inclusive narrative around higher education in Ireland.
Through this project, participants lead the development of a publication about their lives and experiences, from their perspective as third level graduates with a sense of pride in their achievements. We hope the project and the resulting book will leave a lasting impact on themselves, their communities, the wider public, and crucially, younger generations.
Acknowledgements
Kids’ Own is proud to partner with the Whidden Project and TU Athlone to bring this initiative to life, and we look forward to celebrating the voices and talents of Traveller and Roma young people through this inspiring collaboration.
Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this creative journey!