Equitable education doesn’t obliterate a people’s history

This week we hosted a film screening of In My Blood It Runs as part of our Life Long Learning Series, and storytelling for a better world.

Film Synopsis

Ten-year-old Dujuan is a child-healer, a good hunter and speaks three languages. As he shares his wisdom of history and the complex world around him, we see his spark and intelligence. Yet Dujuan is ‘failing’ in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare and the police.

As he travels perilously close to incarceration, his family fight to give him a strong Arrernte education alongside his western education, lest he becomes another statistic. We walk with him as he grapples with these pressures, shares his truths and somewhere in-between finds space to dream, imagine and hope for his future self.

Discussion after the film

The film was watched by a wide audience of educators and students and was followed by a lively Q&A. We feel the Q&A was an important and honest discussion about the film itself and the storyline. Although this film is based in Australia, it was recognised that the same story is played out here in the U.K. and indeed across the world on a daily basis.

If you missed the Q& A you can watch it here:

Feedback from students who have watched the film:

Q: Did the film spark any ideas of how you could advocate for changes to education, youth justice, or anti-racism?

“Going on protests and educate other people” - Student, Year 8

“Not tell history from one point of view, include all cultures.” - Student, Year 12

“Provide more lessons that educate about the original history.” - Student, Year 12

“Including histories of native cultures before colonialism” - Student, Year 12

“Recognition of all cultures in classrooms in all countries.” - Student, Year 13

“By protesting, online social activisms, group work, posters, donate to charities.” - Student, Year 13

“With teaching children what is right could help more to grow a new generation of free minded children.” - Student, Year 8

Get involved, watch the film

We hope this event will be a catalyst for future conversations here in the U.K. and globally. If you would like to watch the film with your students in the autumn term please get in touch by e-mailing admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk

To rent or purchase the film to watch at home with your family: https://inmyblooditruns.com/screenings/#uk

If you are interested in hosting a screening of In My Blood it Runs, or want to show the film in your school, the cost is £50 for a licence for a year. This comes with the teaching resource, including sample lesson plans.

You can get a licence here: togetherfilms.org/shop/imbir-educational-license/

Or email Together films for more information: inmyblooditruns@togetherfilms.org

If you would like to support the work of The Steve Sinnott Foundation in this area you can buy a ‘digital gift’ for someone by clicking the button below:

Buy The Gift Of A Mother Tongue Book

Panel Speakers Biographies

Evadne Bygrave is an educator, life coach and innovator. Inclusion is the driving force behind her enterprising work. Sing a Book CIC engages children in reading through song, capturing the essence of books and infusing them with catchy rhythms. Her musical adaptations include ‘Into The Forest’ and ‘Kate Meets Dido Elizabeth Belle’. Evadne produced and directed the musical, and the sequel ‘Dido Through the looking Glass’ performed by communities under-represented in the theatre. She devised SCIP (School Career Intervention Programme), resining the aspirations and prospects of disadvantaged, underachieving pupils entering secondary school. https://www.singabook.com/

Malcolm Richards is currently a researcher studying race, dialogue and culturally sustaining pedagogies at the University of Exeter in the UK. He researches cultural community asset-based approaches for resource development in rural classrooms. Previously, he worked as a school teacher, senior leader and advisory teacher across the UK. He is a trade union activist, supporting transformation of education institutions for communities which ensure equality for all. He has written extensively about race, equality and cultural sustaining education, in articles, journals and books. He tweets at @malcolmrichards.

Mandekh Hussein is driven by initiatives grounded in collaboration, sustainability, and ownership. She takes part in efforts centred on equipping individuals and communities with the resources, skills and opportunities to actualize their vision, find new opportunities and widen their horizons. Currently she is a Lecturer at Brunel University (focused on curating skills to deliver sound, sustainable and positively impactful transformation), CEO of Eastside Youth, Strategic consultant, focused on addressing health inequities through co-production and an education and empowerment practitioner, working on the nexus between community transformation and EduTech.

Rebecca Ashdown is currently Campaign Director at Together Films. Together Films is an impact distribution agency, specialising in social impact films. Together Film are currently managing the UK release of In My Blood It Runs.

This film was shown as part if the Foundations Life Long Learning Series. We have set up this series to share and reciprocate global learning. We having been hosting film screenings that we believe will foster dialogue about the importance of contextual education and the importance of opportunities and education for all children everywhere.

Other films in this series include Emu Runner, I am Belmaya and Madan Sara

Thank you to everyone who contributed, shared learning and enthusiasm for the Life Long Learning Series.

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Steve Sinnott • July 27, 2021

Spring is Here! Looking Ahead!

By Ann Beatty • March 28, 2025

Spring is definitely here, daffodils, blossom and crocuses are all basking in the bright sunshine. There is still a chill in the air in the shade but it's happening and all the seeds that were sown over the last few months are coming to fruition. At the Foundation, we have been planning the year ahead and our Positive Periods and Prevention of Gender Based Violence programmes got underway this weekend in Haiti and Ghana. These projects will have a long-lasting effect on the lives of the women and girls who take part: tackling the root causes of gender-based violence and enabling girls to attend school every day when they have their period, to feel safe at school and know how to take action when they are faced with violence. These are the first of many projects planned for the year ahead as we continue to work towards Education for All children everywhere.

Igniting a movement for education for all

By Hannah Frisch • March 7, 2025

The outlook for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on global education is far from rosy. But a gloomy future isn’t inevitable. Disappointing statistics are the result of political choices that can be shifted and there are thousands of youth, grassroots activists and civil society organisations across the UK advocating for global education to make these changes. We need more people involved to build the momentum, we need to make a difference in challenging circumstances. You can help! Here’s how; Making global education a UK priority The UK is an important donor and champion for global education. However, education has been gradually deprioritised on the development agenda. Global education spending has plummeted from 13.5% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2013 to just 3.5% in 2023, and education was one of the sectors hit hardest by the abandonment of the 0.7% gross national income (GNI) target for ODA. With Labour’s annual budget confirming another reduction in the aid budget, funding for global education is under threat of being cut even further unless we stand together to say this can’t happen. While education is a domestic priority for the new Government, it has yet to emerge as a strong theme in their development agenda. As the Labour Party continues to develop their approach there is a unique opportunity for advocates to connect these dots and make the case for why education must be a key part of the Government’s international plans. For the Government to take action it needs to hear demand for change. There are many issues MPs recognise are important, but if they do not hear about these issues from constituents it can be hard for MPs to be vocal about them in Parliament. Following an election where many parliamentary seats were won with tight margins, MPs need to hear from the people they represent that global education must be on their agenda. With over half of MPs elected for the first time this year, many are actively looking for a steer on what issues to work on. We can give them one! How to Get Involved Write to your MP about why global education needs to be a bigger priority for the UK Government and encourage members of groups you are a part of, such as your union branch or a local community group, to do the same. This can have a real impact on your MP’s interest and ability to act for global education. You can also connect with other grassroots activists and get resources for taking action from international development advocacy organisations like Results UK. You can learn more about Results UK’s grassroots network on our website. If you are a teacher, get your school involved in the Send My Friend to School Campaign (SMF). Send My Friend is a UK civil society coalition advocating for SDG4 which supports a mass UK schools campaign to amplify student voices calling for universal quality education in solidarity with their peers around the world. Free campaign packs are available on the SMF website for primary and secondary levels with everything teachers need to run the campaign in their school. Parliamentarians can learn more about education issues and how to act by joining the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Global Education, a cross-party group that brings together Parliamentarians interested in the right to education and provides them with knowledge and resources to be champions of the issue. By joining our voices through collective action, we can make a real difference in moving the needle on this issue. Together we have a chance to rechart the course for the realisation of quality education for all. BIOGRAPHY Hannah Frisch is the Senior Policy and Parliamentary Advocacy Officer for Education at Results UK and a Co-Chair of the Send My Friend to School Policy and Parliamentary Working Group. She is a policy advisor for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Global Education in the UK Parliament.

Supporting work for The Federation of Drama Schools

By Melanie Lavery • March 3, 2025

Last year the Steve Sinnott Foundation supported the work of The Federation of Drama Schools by providing financial aid to new graduates, enabling them to take part in an industry showcase at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The showcase is an annual event for Irish graduates who have completed a professional training at one of the Federation’s partner conservatoires in the UK, introducing young actors to the industry they hope to work in. The Federation of Drama Schools partners are institutions that provide conservatoire vocational training for those who want to be professional performers, theatre makers and technical theatre practitioners. The courses they offer are for students of eighteen years and over, who have completed their school level education. In November (2024) fourteen young Irish graduates took part in the showcase and the SSF provided financial support to two graduates who may not otherwise have been able to take part in this showcase, which is a bridge between training and their professional career. Melanie Lavery from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is one of those who benefitted from this support. Melanie writes of her experience. I would like to say a huge thank you to the Steve Sinnott Foundation for the support I received, making it possible for me to take part in the Dublin Showcase 2024. The opportunity allowed me to work with graduates from across FDS schools and widen my contacts in the industry. Coming from a socio-economically deprived area, I’ve often missed out on opportunities available to my peers. I have had to spend a lot of energy during my three years in drama school working to support myself and this has meant I often don’t have time to follow up network opportunities. In receiving this sponsorship and taking part in the showcase I have been able to connect with other Irish creatives - the people I am acting opposite, directors, casting directors and agents in the industry. These industry showcases are so important for graduates. It gives us the possibility of networking with industry professionals and hopefully the opportunity of taking that first crucial step into the profession we have trained for. As I studied in Wales, it gave me the chance to return to Ireland and to reach out to creatives there. The Foundation gave me this amazing opportunity to kick start my career in my home country. On the day of the showcase, I had such pride watching my fellow Irish peers performing on stage at Ireland’s National Theatre. Working together throughout the rehearsal period, I got to know them individually and we all helped each other to grow as performers. This showcase has helped me to create my own community of actors around me. When it came to talking with other creatives after the show case, I became so much more aware of how large and welcoming the industry is in Ireland and how much work is being produced here. I think this show case is so important as it highlights how vibrant and growing the industry is in Ireland. I feel so lucky that I was able to take part thanks to the help of the Steve Sinnott Foundation. For more information on the Federation of Drama Schools, professional industry showcases, and it’s partner schools please visit www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk