Destiny: A Boys in the Making Comic
Callum was created by a group of young men in Oberstown Children Detention Campus, facilitated by EPIC Empowering People in Care with artist Aaron Sunderland Carey, as part of the Boys in the Making programme.
Boys in the Making is a dynamic and creative programme developed for children and young people, which brings together groups to co-create a boy and explore his needs and experiences as he interacts with the world around him. The programme aims to explore, communicate and learn from the lived experiences and knowledge of boys and young men as they engage in a creative exploration of masculinity and its formation.
Over a series of ten sessions in Oberstown Campus School, young people were supported by EPIC staff, the artist and teachers to create the boy. The process created space for open, honest conversations, using a fictional character to safely explore real experiences. Through Callum, the group could reflect on identity, masculinity, and the pressures that shape their lives without having to speak directly about themselves.
Across five months, the story of Callum grew from discussions about complex and often conflicting realities: wanting to change but feeling pulled back by old lives, using substances to cope with overwhelming emotions, and trying to navigate what it means to be a man in environments where vulnerability can carry risk. Sessions were fuelled by sausage rolls and fizzy drinks, and over time, relationships developed, conversations deepened, and Callum was created.
Boys in the Making is a three phase project, and work is underway for phase three, to bring this project to a wider audience.
Destiny: A Boys in the Making Comic
Watch the story unfold through video, or download a copy of the comic.
This project was made possible through the support and collaboration of Oberstown Children Detention Campus and Oberstown Campus School and artist, Aaron Sunderland Carey.
We would also like to thank the Irish Youth Foundation for their funding and support.