A Brief Synopsis
by
Gerard Griffin
National Co-ordinator of Senior Traveller Training Centres
March 2003
______________________________________________________________

The Horsemen Project is one of seven projects chosen by the European Commission under the Leonardo da Vinci programme administered through Leargas, the National Agency.

Fourteen organisations from 5 different countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary, Spain and Ireland) are involved in the Project. The Project is endorsed by the Department of Education and Science and the promoter for the Project is Co. Clare VEC (National Co-ordination Unit) under the guidance of Gerard Griffin, National Co-ordinator, Department of Education and Science, who is facilitating this development in conjunction with the other partners.

A Conference has been arranged with all partners involved in the Project and will be held in the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis. This Conference will commence on Thursday, 27th March at 20.30 with a Cheese & Wine Reception in The Library of the Hotel and will conclude on Sunday, 30th March around noon. The Conference will open officially on Friday morning, 28th March (Day 1) at 9.30.

The Project primarily addresses the needs of the Roma and Travellers in the area of vocational training. It will result in the development and the implementation of one or more modules in horse-care specifically focussed towards Travellers and Roma. Presently Travellers and Roma do not have the requisite educational attainment to avail of the formal Equine Courses which are currently provided by the various training organisations.

There is also a huge demand coming from the labour market which needs to be addressed; the demand for qualified horse carers is rapidly increasing due to the increase in horse keeping and riding. This is very important for the client-group which the Project is directed towards. For many years they would have kept horses and would have the necessary skills to carry out the tasks demanded with regard to horse keeping, but would not have the formal qualifications to do so in a credentialist society. It is only now the client groups are seeing the value of education as a way of achieving equality in society.

The specific aim of the project is to increase the participation level of Travellers and Roma in education and training provision by creating in an innovative way new effective approaches in vocational training for Roma and Travellers. This will be done by combining elements of mainstream education with specific knowledge and supports from Roma and Travellers themselves. It is envisaged that this Project will greatly improve the take-up of training and educational programmes by members of both communities. Therefore, it will reduce drastically the marginalisation of both communities from society and increase the participation of both communities in the labour market.

Disclaimer: The information contained in these Web pages is, to the best of our knowledge, true and accurate at the time of publication, and is solely for information purposes. We accept no liability for any loss or damage howsoever arising as a result of use or reliance on this information

Check out our Visitor Statistics
 
All content © National Co-ordination Unit for Senior Traveller Training Centres - Email gerard.griffin@sttc.ie
Web Design © Oscail Technology Services
Site Maintenance Deirdre Moynihan webmaster@sttc.ie