A creative adult learning project for the Travelling community in Donegal has been shortlisted for an AONTAS STAR Award 2024.
The ‘Trav Story Sacks’ project was nominated as a shining example of social inclusion in adult learning.
Pictured above at the launch of Trav Story Sacks in September 2023: Pamela Cullotty (Donegal Travellers Project), Adele McElhinney (Donegal ETB) and Joe Kelly (Donegal County Library).
The initiative brought together two groups within the Travelling community, to collectively create a story sack that reflects life for the Travelling community in Donegal.
The Donegal Travellers Project, Donegal County Library and Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training Services all worked together on this project, which resulted in a children’s storybook and a collection of stories being published depicting the culture, traditions and heritage of the Traveller community.
Speaking about this year’s STAR Awards shortlist, CEO of AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation in Ireland. Dearbháil Lawless said: “The STAR Awards shortlist speaks to the impressive work happening across adult and community education. There’s such creativity and passion guiding adult learning in Ireland. I’d also like to share my thanks to our judges who will meet the shortlisted groups in the coming weeks. This year’s event is shaping up to be an exciting day and the AONTAS team can’t wait to meet all the groups involved. Best of luck!”
The STAR awards ceremony will take place on Friday 8th March at Croke Park, Dublin, as the highlight of the annual AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival, running from 4th to 8th March 2024.
