The health status of young Travellers is significantly worse than the health of those in the settled community. As a distinct cultural group, and as young people, young Travellers have distinctive health needs and require special consideration in the health service.
Some of the issues that affect the health of young Travellers include:
Living conditions
Racism and Discrimination
Lack of Appropriate Health Promotion Material
Issues Facing Young Travellers
Some of the issues that face young Travellers include:
• Discrimination when trying to access services
• An increase in drug misuse in the community
• An increase in suicide amongst young Travellers
• The need to reinforce cultural identity
• Need for increased participation in decisions that affect their health
The aim of the programme is to:
• Ensure access to relevant health services for young Travellers in Galway city.
• Provide consciousness raising opportunities for young Travellers in relation to health inequalities.
• Identifying and supporting young Traveller activists.
• Linking young Travellers into services – NYP’s, Youth projects, etc.
• Develop and maintain a database of young Travellers in Galway city.
• Develop and maintain database of service providers in Galway city.
• Record and highlight the issues that affect the health of young Travellers, and lobby for change.
Past work
Production of comic ‘Pavee Zone’ for use as a drugs awareness raising tool (aimed at 12-14 yr olds). Involved working with a group of young Traveller boys and girls (aged 12 -14) around drugs awareness over a two year period.
Production of resource pack ‘Working for Change’ for use with youth groups.
Organization of six week course - ‘Travellers and Human Rights’
Outreach programme to Carrowbrowne Halting site: peer led consciousness raising workshops, group work, health awareness workshops (peer led).
Youth Group – met on a weekly basis, involved in various consciousness raising trainings, participated in campaigns, protests, etc (‘March for Equality’, ’02, Anti-Trespass March, etc.)
Current Work
Consciousness raising with young Travellers around health inequalities.
Linking with service providers around access to services.
Consulting with young Travellers around their health issues.
Highlighting the obstacles to young Travellers accessing services.
Feeding back issues around young Travellers
Identifying and supporting young Traveller activists.
Contact person: Martina
Relevant Links
Barnardos
Galway Youth Federation
Foroige
Traveller Specific Drugs Initiative