Galway Traveller Movement

Pictured are, Breda McDonagh (Galway Traveller Movement), Elaine Keane with Josephine Boland, (School of Education, NUI Galway),  "Pavee Study" participants and volunteers.

As an optional part of their Education & Society foundation course, forty-two Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (former Higher Diploma in Education) students in the School of Education at NUI Galway registered their interest in service-learning and volunteering with the ALIVE programme in September 2007, and many subsequently went on to participate in such work with numerous community and other non-governmental organisations throughout the country.

One example is "Pavee Study". In 2007, the Galway Traveller Movement (GTM) and the School of Education at NUI Galway collaboratively set up "Pavee Study", a homework club managed, facilitated and supervised by Traveller parents. In its pilot year, it has run four nights per week in the GTM offices. General academic support, together with subject-specific homework support and tuition is provided free of charge to thirteen post-primary Traveller students from schools throughout Galway city, including the Presentation Secondary School, Salerno Secondary School, Coláiste Einde, and St. Mary’s College.

"I now feel happier going to school because I'm able to keep up with the rest of the class and my homework is always done. I would like to act as a role model for other young Travellers to finish school," said Debbie McDonagh, Leaving Certificate student (pictured).

Twenty-two voluntary tutors work with the students. Ten are NUI Galway PGDE students, two of whom are pictured.

Both the GTM and the School of Education feel that it is vital that Travellers don’t get lost in the current important focus upon interculturalism in both society and education. Work is in progress to further develop both the “Pavee Study” and workshop elements of this project, with a particular emphasis on examining ways of ensuring its long-term sustainability. This will include an exploration of potential funding sources.