Ballyhoura Development will partner with TASC and Friar's Gate Theatre in Kilmallock to deliver the "Building Bridges" community drama project.

This pilot project, scheduled to commence in October 2023 and spanning a two-year period, is set to provide a safe space for young Travellers aged 15 to 24, enabling them to explore their aspirations for the future while actively engaging in decisions that have a direct impact on their lives.

Focused on co-design, inclusivity, and participation, the "Building Bridges" project is designed to empower participants to discover their own and others' viewpoints with the objective of opening up access to inclusion in the wider community.

Through a participatory drama process, employing characters and metaphors, participants will develop invaluable skills in effective self-expression in a non-confrontational manner, solve problems and interact constructively with society.

Action research will form a key part of the project with a focus on evaluating and understanding how the project builds confidence and supports positive interactions with wider society. The project will provide employment opportunities for a member of the Traveller Community in East Limerick.

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media have awarded funding for this project through the Creative Youth Nurture Fund, which through the Government's Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 aims to provide children and young people with a voice in the planning and implementation of their creative activity. It is particularly attuned to providing avenues for creative expression to those young people who face challenges in accessing such creative opportunities.

For further information about this project, contact Jacki Hehir at [email protected] or  087-1840938.

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