AMBER WOMENS
REFUGE CLG
with The
One Million
Stars Project
Weaving Communities of Courage Against Violence
One Billion Stars Project Founder
The project began in Australia in 2012, Samoan artist Maryann Talia pau began weaving the eight-pointed stars as a response to the murder of an Irish woman living in Melbourne. Australia have already reached one million stars and now it is a global movement with over four million stars worldwide www.onebillionstars.net
“Building community connections and creating a safe sense of belonging is the heart of our star weaving movement. Every time a person weaves a star, they are expressing their hopes, dreams and concerns. Weaving stars helps us to feel less alone, less overwhelmed by the enormity of violence and more confident to face the next step.” Maryann Talia Pau
Weaving Communities of Courage
Maryann Talia Pau tells her story of the founding of the OMS project and how it has become a global movement , spreading light, hope and solidarity against violence throughout the world.
One Million Stars Ireland
What we do ?
The One Million Stars Ireland project is a community arts project that connects our community through the craft of weaving stars. Each star represents light, hope and solidarity against violence. The OMS Project was brought to Ireland in 2019 by art therapist Siobhan McQuillan (Arts Reach Ireland) and Amber Refuge Kilkenny. The project was launched during the 16 Days of Activism at Newpark family Resource Centre Kilkenny. In the past year we have reached out to many communities and woven around 30,000 stars in Ireland. Together we aim to weave One Million Stars and bring the project to the whole of Ireland. Join us on our weaving journey.
Why we do it ?
We raise domestic abuse awareness by holding public stars installations. We now have star weavers across Ireland including counties Kilkenny, Carlow, Louth, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, Mayo, Monaghan,Cavan, Meath and Westmeath. This is an inclusive community project that includes TY students, care home residents, Syrian women’s groups, Respond, Rehab Ireland, Mental Health Ireland, Family Recourse Centres, Irish Girl Guides the Irish Country Women’s Association, Irish Wheelchair Association, and individual weavers across the country who weave at home. Before Covid-19 and during the lockdowns of 2021/2021 we have stayed connected by being together/apart through the art of weaving. We are joined together in our solidarity against violence and we promote the message of hope for a better future.
One Million Stars TO END VIOLENCE EXHIBITION KILKENNY CITY HALL ON NOW
Tik Tok from St Brigids TY Students Callan
Droichead FRC
AMBER WOMENS
REFUGE CLG
with The
One Million
Stars Project
Weaving Communities of Courage Against Violence
Try our star weaving kit for that lunchtime pick me up! Includes materials, printed instructions, and a woven star example.
We connect communities through the power of creativity and raise dv awareness through our workshops and installations to create a safer violence free future for all.
Amber Womens Refuge CLG. caters for women and children from Carlow and Kilkenny. In 2016 we developed our outreach and court accompaniment service to reach those in rural areas seeking support and information.
The Hunt Museum has teamed up with ADAPT Domestic Abuse Services, Mental Health Ireland, CWELL, Limerick City and County Council and Lawless Flowers to develop a One Million Star weaving network in Limerick.
Overcoming fear and division together makes us powerful. Artists, educators, health workers etc – ending violence is all of our responsibility. Contact Us to collaborate for safe futures for everyone.
SPECIAL Thanks To
