From Kilcranny to the White House

Rachel Rafferty was among many dignitaries from Northern Ireland and the Republic as well as many prominent Irish Americans at the occasion.

Rachel, who has been involved in peace-building projects with Kilcranny House for past last four years, said she was honoured and delighted to have attended.

She told the Times: "I wasn't expecting an invitation at all, to be honest, and just feel really lucky to have got to see President Obama speak in person - only a few metres away from me!"

Rachel was in the US taking part in a study visit with a group of 15 people from Northern Ireland drawn from voluntary and community organisations, local government and youth services.

The AMBIT study tour is organised by the US Consulate in Belfast and is funded by the International Fund for Ireland.

It selects participants who have already considerable proven experience and who are likely to develop even further as innovative thinkers who will make change happen in their communities.

Three other people who work in the Coleraine area were also part of this year's AMBIT study tour, Deirdre Bradley of NEELB Youth Service, Rose Smyth, a Good Relations officer with CRUN and Julie Welsh, Community Development Manager with Coleraine Borough Council.

Rachel said: "The AMBIT study visit was an amazing experience, topped off by the excitement of getting inside the White House.

"But the important thing now is to start applying some of what I learned to my projects back here at home. I was given this fantastic opportunity, but now its time to turn my attention to what I can give back to youth work in the local area".

AMBIT Group organiser, Seamus McAleavey Chief Executive of NICVA, added: "This was a very intense programme of visits over four cities in 11 days.

"The organisations we met are dealing with the most marginalised and disadvantaged young people in America and doing it with passion and conviction and with the sole objective of helping them improve their life chances. They are helping them turn away from the gang culture, improve their qualifications, tackle drugs issues and get jobs in the main stream economy".

Above left - WHITE HOUSE VISIT...Julie Welsh, Rose Smyth, Deirdre Bradley and Rachel Rafferty. CR17-305s