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ABOVE: Monika Frieskrova, Kristina Balsiene, Yana Dhaivoka, Kathleen Hayes, Maria Kennedy, Tania Martins took part in the course WORKING TOGETHER“Working together on this project involved social interaction, collaboration, and the possibility of sharing some family recipes. As the adult literacy organiser for KCETB, I am proud to have the opportunity to be part of your learning journey,” she said, commending everyone involved in the project. Parents from different backgrounds and areas who may never have crossed paths got to meet, the newly arrived in Kilkenny and people who have lived here for years. During the course participants took part in shopping challenges where they were divided into teams and were given vouchers to shop for meals like a roast dinner or a child’s party. They also went on outings to the Goodly Barrow café in Goresbridge, Ryland House Cookery School, and shared their favourite recipes from their home countries, which they cooked together at the KCETB kitchen on Patrick Street. The culmination of the project was the launch of the cookery book which is both a record of the parents’ journey through the project and a collection of their favourite recipes from their home countries. Orla said the project was a lovely experience. It’s a sentiment echoed by participants on the course, who come from backgrounds as varied and far-flung as Sudan, Lithuania, Kenya, South Africa, Bangladesh, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine, as well as people who grew up in Kilkenny. Florence, who is originally from Kenya and has been living in Kilkenny for 24 years, not only enjoyed learning about food but meeting people from other countries and learning about their backgrounds. In creating their new friendship network, Florence said the participants told their stories and shared their favourite recipes. Narissa Carstens was introduced to the group by the principal of the school. Originally from South Africa she said the group made her feel very welcome and Orla was a great help to her. There was a lot
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ABOVE: Mary Jackman, Margaret Sweeney, Josie Jackman, Mary O’Neill, Deirdre O’Shea Family Learning“St. Johns Junior School are delighted to be involved with the ETB family learning project. The ETB tutors are amazing. They curate projects that are as much about forming connections and creating experiences, as they are about learning. The home school liaison coordinator supports the parents and the tutors in the facilitation of these projects,” said Mary O’Neill, Principal of St John’s Junior School. “The community of St John’s has been the lucky beneficiary of many a successful initiative supported by KCETB. This particular project has brought great joy to the families associated with the school,” added Brian Roche, St John’s Senior School Principal.A new project will be starting in September and, Orla says, there are great things planned and she’s looking forward to it already!The cookbook is available from the school secretary for €5 or it can be borrowed from Kilkenny Library Service.
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ABOVE: Carmel Bryan, Florence Wallace, Mary O’Neill, Carmel O’Neill, Rachel White, Bernadette O’Rourke, Orla Mackey All Pictures: Harry Reid
