The report on the first phase of the Horsemen project, involving the evaluation of existing Horsecare courses in Ireland and partnership countries was created by AOC Terra based in Holland. The main outcomes of this report (discussed in Emmen, 6-9 November 2003) were the similarities between present courses and the number of compulsory subjects being taught in the agricultural schools involved in the project.

The results of the consultation phase with the client group were presented and agreed at our recent partner meeting in Szolnok (Hungary, 19-22 February 2004) by the leading partner National Co-ordination Unit, (Office of the National co-ordinator for STTC's) of Ireland in close co-operation with Exchange House, Dublin.

The main outcomes of this Report are as follows:

• Interest of the adolescents of the target group in this type of programme
• The experience/ historical knowledge of Travellers/Roma in working with horses
• The interest of involvement of Traveller and Roma organisations in preparing of the next phase of the project.
• The need for individual tailored programmes to be developed for each participating country in the next stage of the project.
• The relevancy of "project for labour market perspective" to be taken into account in all the participating countries.
  

Following a meeting in Szolnok, Hungary, the outcomes of the results of the consultation phase were examined and
The Development Phase has now begun. St. Catherine's Traveller Training Centre, Ballina are the leading partners for this phase of the project, under the guidance of David Billings and Kevin Feerick.
A tailored programme/course may need to be developed for each of the three pilot countries; Spain, Hungary & Ireland, due to the historical and cultural backgrounds and conditions and the type of educational programme sought by each of the three countries. In Ireland, the module/programme sought is one that fits in with the framework under the FETAC Accreditation System, while in Hungary they are looking for a training programme lasting two years that involves a number of other educational programmes. In Spain, the report shows an interest in developing a course incorporating thee qualities that are deemed to be considered essential to both employers and the client-group. AOC Terra ( Our Dutch partner) will co-operate with Manos Tendidas (Spanish partner) to develop the course/ modules in Spain. A meeting between these partners is foreseen for first week of May. In Ireland the leading partner for the development phase is St Catherine's Training Centre, Ballina. They will lead the development of such a course in Ireland in conjunction with the relevant Irish partners. In Madrid in September this year, St. Catherine's will then present a report describing this pilot stage.

Drafts of this report will be presented and approved by each NVQ, so for Hungary by Methodik Zentrum, for Ireland by FETAC, and for Spain by Aequor (via AOC Terra).

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