Southern Culture
Did You Know?
OU
The UK's largest university, The Open University, has its headquarters in Milton Keynes.
Working with Young Romany Gypsies
'Kushti Atchin Tan' means 'good stopping place' in the Romany language. It is the name given to a short film created by young Romany Gypsy students, who are settled in Kent and attend Angley School in Cranbrook. This English Heritage Outreach project was inspired by a group of young Romanies, who wanted to share what they knew about their culture and to find out more about how it has evolved through time. From January to July 2006, eleven students took part in a variety of linked activities, including filming, oral history recording and craft workshops. At the same time they developed some of the technical skills involved in making a film, working alongside local film company 'Open Productions'. As one participant explained "they're better than normal lessons....cos youre getting to talk about your own things and get to talk about your own culture and people understand.... feels proud for what I am".The project aims to raise awareness of Romany Gypsy culture in schools through developing teaching resources to accompany the film, in partnership with the Minority Communities Achievement Service at Kent County Council. These resources will be launched early in 2007 and will be given free to every school in Kent. More information on other projects exploring the cultural identity of the Romany Gypsy communities in the South East, such as The Living Album in Hampshire, Roads to your Past in Surrey, and Romani Roots in West Sussex can be found in the web report at
www.heritagecounts.org.uk