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I am an undergraduate student at IT Carlow Wexford pursuing an arts  degree in Applied Humanities.  In my final year now, very busy and hectic but looking forward to the rewards

Thesis
My final college project will be in the area of diversity in the media. I got an interest in the topic after realizing that the number of presenters who are of migrant background in Ireland is near to none. I have a huge interest in the topic because i would love to see more diversity in the Irish media so that kids from migrant backgrounds can look up to these figures and believe that they can also make it.

Hobbies & Interests

Activism

Volunteerism

Networking

Traveling

Festivals and events

Community engagement

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Loosing Isaiah
[B ased on a novel of the same name written by Seth J. Margolis and published by Hyperion Books]
This is a movie about a single mother who is addicted to drugs resulting in a decision to dump her baby in a rubbish center.  She returns the next morning looking for her baby only to find that the baby is not there.

The baby was saved by a social care worker who ended up adopting him (Isaiah).

This film has elements of psychology in society:
Social
In the film, a black lawyer represents a black mother who abandoned her child.  She argues that the child will be better off in the hands of her biological and black mother instead of her adopted white mother.  The issue of racism in the society is clearly depicted on both ends.  The mother and the lawyer were concerned with the fact that a white woman is raising a black child.  It is seen  as a threat to the child who will grow up being the other among his white family.
The lawyer went as far as to   question the adoptive mother if she ever reads black bed time stories to the child.

Political
Racial identity is an issue of concern among kids who are adopted by parents from a different racial background.  These kids can grow up believing they are a certain race while ignoring the fact that they are the other.  Since the beginning of civil rights movements in the states, the National Association of Black Social Workers saw such adoptions as a cultural genocide.

Global
On the global aspect, however, race should not be an issue. There are so many children across the world who need parental love and guidance. And there are so many privileged individuals who are full of love and open to giving love to kids who may need. For instance pop star icon Madonna has adopted kids from Malawi and has given them the best life which they would never get were they to still be in Malawi.

And even at the end of the movie, we see the biological mother who eventually won the case and got her son back, reached out to the adopted mother for help and co parenting because the child associated mother with the white woman and not the biological mother. This caused so much trauma for the boy and the mother had to act for the interest of the child by giving the child back to the white mother.

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Losing Isaiah Halle Berry 1995 Full Movie

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Uploaded by Junior Barcenas on 2017-03-08.

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What can i do to be actively involved in the society?

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What can i do to be actively involved in the society?

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I will do my final college project on  evaluation of people's attitudes towards diversity in the Irish Media.

Ireland has grown into a multicultural society but yet this is not reflected in the media. My thesis will focus on seeking people's attitudes towards why it is that way, and what do they think if there were to be presenters of migrant background in some of most watched Television shows such as news cats, weather forecast, chart shows and documentary programmes to name a few.

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Thoughts On the Article
Photographer Ronan Gallagher has documented an Irish Traveller family from Ennistymon in County Clare whose children featured in Stella McCartney's  Kids Fashion Campaign on Irish Times Magazine 7 October, 2017.
My thoughts are it is very interesting and important to see Travellers being given  such platform.  Their society has always been neglected and it is time the society view them as equals.
The photographer chose a natural environment for these kids thus boosting their confidence and not feeling intimidated.

Reflections
It is a good approach to use Traveller kids who in msot cases are not given such opportunities.  It makes the group feel included. In the documentary, the photographer talks about one of the older kids who was very keen in learning about Photography so he was given ten task of changing lens.
Children regardless of their different backgrponds have to be nurtured and supported to achieve their dreams. For traveller kids, it has not been the same. They have been left disadvantaged in almost every aspect that has an impact in reaching their full potential i.e education, recreational activities and  social inclusion in general.

Questions Raised
While reviewing the article, i developed a few questions of interest:

1. Would pointing out "Travelling Community" have an impact to the general public who may be the actual target of the products?

2.  Wouldn't it be better if such group terms were eliminated?

3. On the other hand, is it necessary to point out the ethnic group to emphasize on inclusion?

Other Perspectives

Mixing these traveller kids with other non travelling kids is a good alternative.

The photographer could have told a bit of a story about this family.

Conclusion
The article is emphasizing inclusion and acceptance of different communities who make up the Irish society in general

Source: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/fashion/ennistymon-traveller-family-model-for-stella-mccartney-campaign-1.3247116

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Class Project

1.Plan a group project
2.Visit a community. Suggest a small film to collaborate
3.Plan
4.Second visit to the same community
5.Film/documentary production
6.Invite the community to college - presentation of the film/documentary

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Class visit to Teach Spraio, Taghmon, Co. Wexford at 3pm.

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Class visit to Teach Spraio, Taghmon, Co. Wexford at 3pm.

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22 November, 2017
Community Narratives
Hosted by Sharon Cairney (5 years leading the centre).  The centre caters for the whole community which is a mix of Irish and Irish Travelling community residents.  A total of 93 kids are currently registered.   It has 4 rooms, 2 of which are ECCE rooms.   They have created a transitional ECCE room for the kids who qualify for ECCE but yet they are still very young to be mixed with the other ECCE who are older than them.  There are currently 16 ECCE and 7 transitional ECCE students.  Ecce 15 hrs a week – 3 hours a day. The staff to student ratio is  1:8, lower compared to the standard 1:11 and the staff  are always doing upskilling.  The centre runs an after school classes for those in junior infants and upwards.  This is mostly for traveller kids to have a centre where they can do their homework and also get meals at times.  They also have a big outdoor play area and a green house where kids participate in growing different foods. There are 6 CE (Community Employment)   scheme workers paid by the department of education.  Listening and respond to community needs and working around those needs, the centre now opens from 9am – 2pm for children who need it. It used to be less hours.  It also provides employment and experience for staff.  A group operates for free twice a week /evenings - upstairs twice a week.  It is specifically for traveller kid and funded by Wexford Local Development (WLP). WLD were approached as families especially those with more children were struggling to pay the fees for each child.  So the funding replaced the fees. The programme was successful first two weeks then it Slowed down. So it was brought down to children who need it with two traveller women facilitating the groups. Taghmon is a very self-sufficient village.

Funding
Receives funding from POBAL and DCYA, facility users pay for fees which are means tested basing on family income.  The funding is not sufficient to run the centre therefore they rely on CE scheme workers to run classes. Affordable  full  time childcare is €20 a week for families that qualify

Challenges

It’s not recognized as a professional body yet they are inspected at regular intervals like other professional bodies.

Have level 6 staff

A child of 2 and half has to either enter school this year, if not they have to wait till the next academic year.   The system is flawed in the sense that some kids may not be ready to start in September, but they could be ready in the middle of the academic year, yet they will have to wait until the next year to start schooling.

They also have to go through so many bodies for different things which makes it difficult for the centre to run

Due to lack of funding, the centre is not able to employ full time stuff, therefore it is heavily reliant on CE scheme workers.

Centre could close down due to lack of credit workers.  2 CE scheme workers have left, 2 more are expected to leave.

Suggestions
Capital funding alone isn't enough, employment should be created. Back in 2001 a European body was paying workers’ wages, but that has stopped.

Personal reflection
This visit has given me a different view on people from  travelling community who, according to the knowledge that I have picked up from the society they are always portrayed as people moving from one place to another, and who do not value education.  But now I have realized that there are those that have decided to settle and send their kids to school.  I also liked the fact that the community lives in harmony and it is equally mixed between the Irish and the Irish travellers.  There seems to be a very good integration in that community.  Overall, I enjoyed the trip very much as I have learnt so much in just a short period of time and I will be looking forward to the next visit.

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Community Narratives

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Community Narratives
Transition Year

AIMS MODEL

http://aim.gov.ie/

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Play area

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Class visit to Taghmon Family Resource Centre, Wexford. Was hosted by Mary O’Loughlin (Project Coordinator) and Ray O’Brien (Outreach & Development). Mary has a degree in agricultural science and Ray has a degree in community education.

The community aims at Helping people to help themselves.

There is a 2 equivalent to employed workers (Mary is full, Brid Akiyemi  and Ray O’Brien part timers) f

Taghmon- has rich old history, a deprived area.

The Community centre was established 9yrs ago (2008). Came after a Needs Analysis to start family community centre, run by Tusla who pays for 2 full time workers.

The centre has evolved while still trying to provide Community consultation.

They do a 3 year strategic plan, e.g. needs for literacy sports.

Many community members turn up to access services.

There is low number of Foreign nationals (about 2 polish kids)

Offer Driver theory training, funded by Wexford Local Development (WLD).

Leverage a lot of sports, provide family support- counselling (voluntary hours)

Work with Waterford Education Training Board (WETB).

Do hand ball summer camp in schools

6 week prohibition in primary school - linked with school.

Challenge – lack of secondary school results to kids being scattered to go to different secondary.

Men have done wood carvings - kids learn to carve

One on one chats, access to services.

They advocate for the people of the community

They run Parenting programs (parent+)

Peer support for primary school children that have suffered bereavement or parent separation.

Challenges in the community, lack of education. Transport, unemployment

Tackles Social isolation (men’s shed, women's groups, travelled sports).

The centre is now under Department of Children and Youth Affairs under Catherine Zappone, this limits the amount of services offered to the community.

Linked with FETAC courses, but major problem is people not turning up for courses.

People have no access to internet/computers

Tus worker helps around (cleaning and maintenance) do it for 1 year.

Funding sources - has now focused towards family (limited)

Groups for older people are available to meet for free.

Other agencies can use the premises too.

Focus of the work has changed due to funding changes, with existing resources.

One of the last few to be funded before the McCarthy report.

Registered charity, voluntary board of management (10 local members who are also board of trustees)

Under Charity regulatory authority

They report to TUSLA, so it’s transparent and accountable.

Statistics: 150 people access the centre per week. There are over 5,000 visits per year. Engaged with 300 kids per week, 400 to 500 adults

Monday to Friday. Food cloud/ collect from Tesco and Aldi distribute to 125 families every week.

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Prilleltensky Psychology status quo 1989

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TAGHMON                                               A reflection on the project done by Applied Humanities class for Psychology in society Module.

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First Assignment

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My Community Narratives Diary 2017 - 2018

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My Community Narratives Diary 2017 - 2018

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A compilation of the activities done and their corresponding dates.