L-R Caitriona Quilligan, Margaret Rose O’Brien, Katie Cofffey, Joanne Quilligan, Margaret Rose Quilligan, Rosemarie Quilligan, Margeurite McCarthy
Peer Education Team
L-R Caitriona Quilligan, Margaret Rose O’Brien, Katie Cofffey, Joanne Quilligan, Margaret Rose Quilligan, Rosemarie Quilligan, Marguerite McCarthy
About the Peer Education Team
During 2021/22 a group of 14 Traveller Women undertook a programme of education and training at MTU, graduating with a Certificate in Mentoring in Education. In February 2023, 7 members of that group successfully completed a recruitment process to be employed as Peer Educators with Kerry Travellers Health and Community Development Project. The pilot project is currently funded until September 2025 and is actively seeking longer term funding.
Our Mission
Education is a key factor in determining social, economic, and health outcomes. Travellers experience very high levels of educational disadvantage that contribute to high levels of inequality in health, employment, housing and other quality of life measures.. The mission of the Peer Education Project is for Traveller children to remain in school and achieve the best possible educational outcomes with the long term aim of reducing inequalities in later life. The Peer Education team works to support both schools and parents to overcome obstacles faced by Travellers in Primary and Post-Primary schools The Peer Education Team is part of a wider partnership between Kerry Travellers Health and Community Development Project and education agencies as part of Kerry Interagency Traveller Education Forum (KITE)
Work with Parents
The Peer Education Team supports Traveller parents by:
- Working together to identify and address the issues and challenges Parents face in supporting their children in school.
- Ensuring that parents access the financial and other supports available to them
- Ensuring parents are aware of the rights of Traveller children at school,
- Building capacity of parents to best support their children through provision of group work / training in personal development, managing conflict, advocacy etc.
Work with Schools
The Peer Education team works with partners in Education with the following aims:
- To improve knowledge and understanding of Traveller culture through provision of Traveller Culture Awareness sessions
- To support and improve communication / information sharing between Schools and Traveller Parents – particularly around issues such as school enrolment, transition, and parental involvement in schools.
Contact Us
Coordinator
Andy Walker – andykthcdp@gmail.com
087 706 8091
Team Members
Joanne Quilligan – joannekthcdp@gmail.com
Caitriona Quilligan – caitrionakthcdp@gmail.com
Katie Coffey – katiekthcdp@gmail.com
Rosemarie Quilligan – rosemariekthcdp@gmail.com
Margaret Rose O’Brien – margaretrosekthcdp@gmail.com
Marguerite McCarthy – Margueritekthcdp@gmail.com
Margaret Rose Quilligan – margaretrose2kthcdp@gmail.com
