Liz McGrath from Cobh left school at the age of 13 and says yesterday's conferring ceremony at UCC was a proud day for her and her community.
The 21 women graduated from a Level 6 Leadership in the community programme that was created by the Southern Traveller Health Network, Adult and Continuing Education and UCC and funded by the SOAR Project.
The two year course covered issues such as education, accommodation and health.
Speaking to RedFM News, new UCC graduate Liz McGrath outlines her goals for the future:
"For us to return to education as mature students, I suppose it can show our community that if we can do it, anyone can do it and that it's possible. At the moment I'm working in a Traveller organisation, I suppose my goal now moving forward is to support the young generation to continue education as well. And just to let them see the importance of education and hoping this will open doors for them and create pathways for them to continue in education as well."
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A huge congratulations to the group of Traveller women who were today the first ever graduates of the Leadership in the Community course, specially developed and supported by @access_ucc, the Southern Traveller Health Network, @ACEUCC and @SoarForAccess. pic.twitter.com/0h3s8Q42dw— UCC Ireland (@UCC) April 14, 2022