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Scottish Traveller Education Programme
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News and EventsHolocaust Memorial Day – January 2009: STEP’s Contribution‘Holocaust Memorial Day – 27th January - is recognised internationally as the day to commemorate victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution as well as victims of later genocides – Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo. It also explores wider issues of prejudice, hatred, discrimination and community cohesion in Britain today.' This year’s HMD theme was ‘Stand up to Hatred’. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (www.hmd.org.uk) developed a number of resources and materials that focussed on standing up to the hatred of stereotyping and discrimination many minorities still face in Britain today. The City of Edinburgh Council Services for Communities and Children and Families this year aimed to develop a 'partnership' programme of Stand up to Hatred commemorative events and displays. STEP was invited to participate in this partnership; this article describes its contribution. A
Staff at STEP hoped that these events would stimulate dialogue around the importance of race and equality training in relation to Scotland’s Travelling communities.
The exhibition contained first-hand accounts of racism and persecution from the past, drawing parallels between the events of the Holocaust and racist attacks that are prevalent today. The ‘Stand up to Hatred’ theme ‘urges us to look at our behaviour to others; to understand how hate is directed against different minorities in Britain today; to explore how each of us can help make our communities stronger and safer’. The exhibition focused on the Romany victims of the Holocaust and the continued racist attacks against and stereotyping of Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller communities. Scotland’s other Travelling communities, e.g. Scottish Showmen or show and fairground Travellers also experience racism when families take the shows to Scottish towns and villages. Workshops for students delivered by Gypsy/Traveller young people - February 9, 2009
Each workshop had an audience of approximately ten Education 3 students from the University’s Educational Studies department, and some outside visitors too. George and William began the workshop with a Gypsy/Traveller quiz. They made statements about Gypsy/Traveller life and students were asked to decide whether they were true or false. Statements included ‘Gypsy/Travellers have trouble getting water,’ and ‘Gypsy/Travellers have their own language?’ Many of the students were surprised to find that both of these statements were true. George and William were happy to give examples of Scottish Traveller cant words, a language that includes words from Gaelic, Scots, Romanes and Sanskrit. They also described some of their experiences living on the road and trying to get water from petrol stations or farms. George and William went on to ask students to pick an object out of a basket and describe what the object meant to them. One student picked up a golden bead necklace and said it reminded her of something her mother would wear. George and William showed everyone bracelets and rings that they had received from relatives as gifts. George and William went on to explain that things like jewellery have special meanings for Travellers because they are passed down from relatives and each piece has special significance.
They went on to present short videos of negative stereotypes that exist about Gypsies/Travellers and contrasted them with videos of actual Gypsies/Travellers, some of whom go to school while others work in their family businesses. A highlight of the workshops was the opportunity to make traditional paper flowers. Participants were provided with materials and given an opportunity to ask George and William questions about the topics they had presented. George said that it was hard making friends in school because his family did not necessarily stay in one place for long. He said, 'you end up having one friend at a time'. However, he also highlighted that there were always other Gypsy/Traveller children, cousins and family members, at home. Both said that having laptops would be a welcome way of keeping up with their studies and other pupils.
For further information about Gypsy/Traveller young people and their concerns, please look at the Time Traveller website: www.time-travellers.org.uk *Save the Children has funded many projects with Scottish Gypsy/Traveller young people – however, this funding has been withdrawn due to strategic decisions made by Save the Children. Many of the resources developed during this period will be archived at this website.
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s part of the Council’s wider programme in Edinburgh, STEP aimed to raise awareness among colleagues and students here at Moray House, by:
The two HMD workshops challenging the racial stereotyping of Gypsies/Travellers, held at the Moray House School of Education, were delivered by George and William McPhee, and supported by Save the Children (
Another student picked out a model caravan and said that it represented travelling and holidays for her. George and William pointed out that for them and their families, caravans represent a home and a way of life. When asked if they liked that lifestyle or if it was very difficult for them, both replied that it was fun to see so much of the country.
Students' responses were overwhelmingly positive, with the majority saying the workshop had been excellent in raising their awareness of the different Gypsy/Traveller communities living in Scotland. One student remarked on how interesting the workshop was: ‘I learnt a lot. I was also really impressed at how well the boys coped’. Another student said they would go away and ‘have a look at websites as it certainly increased my awareness and made me intrigued to find out more!’ | STEP: Scottish Traveller Education Programme tel: 0131 651
6444; fax: 0131 651 6511
page updated 24 April 2009 |