Educational aspirations of Roma children from Holylands, Belfast

A film by Raluca Roman and Michael Holly

Through the voices and personal stories of several Romanian Roma school children and parents living in the Holyland area of Belfast, as well as the conversations they have with teachers, school principals and educational service providers, this short film introduces viewers to the educational aspirations, dreams and challenges of an often misunderstood, misrepresented and stigmatised minority. 

By offering intimate, personalised and honest portrayals of engagements, friendships, connections and struggles among Roma students, their parents and their teachers, this film also urges viewers to reconsider widely held presumptions and stereotypes about the educational experiences of members of a minority youth in Northern Ireland.

Full info of the film:

I want to be a... Conversations About the Educational Aspirations of Roma Children showing at Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast.

People involved: Dr Raluca Roman (QUB Anthropology), Dr Michael Holly (QUB Film Studies), Abigail Linton & Brid Maher (Education Authority Northern Ireland), with the support of Queen's Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility.