Local youth build positive relations with help from YESIP

YOUNG people from Newtownabbey's youth groups and schools have been doing their bit to increase cultural awareness, improve tolerance and trust, and further cross-community and cross-cultural contact through a 'Building Positive Relations at Local Level' project within the North Eastern Education and Library Board area.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Aug 2010, 17:51 BST
Updated 16th Aug 2010, 18:24 BST

The initiative, funded by the PEACE III programme, involved 13 schools across the three Learning Communities of Newtownabbey, Larne and Antrim as well as 11 youth projects within the Board’s Youth Service in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Larne.

To date over 370 young people, including youth from New Mossley Presbyterian Youth Club, Glengormley Youth Centre,Kilbride Youth Club, Fringe Youth Works, Belfast High School, Hazelwood Integrated College, Jordanstown School and Monkstown Community High School, have participated in the Youth Education Social Inclusion Programme (YESIP) project.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Throughout the programme the young people had the opportunity to participate in activities that challenge attitudes and beliefs around sectarianism and racism.

They developed skills through capacity building programmes which include arts, sports and drama projects and some engaged in accredited leadership training.

This culminated in a joint youth and schools conference held at Corr’s Corner which provided each project an opportunity to showcase achievements.

These included a young person’s profile, drama performance, a peace quilt, plus a practical resource for inclusion and anti-sectarianism and anti-racism training in schools in the future.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Schools, youth projects and young people received plaques and certificates for their achievements and the event was filmed by NEELB.TV for a DVD which can be used as a practical resource.

The PEACE co-ordinators - namely youth workers and teachers, also received certificates, having completed anti-sectarianism and anti-racism accredited training. This will contribute to the sustainability of the project in the longer term impacting on the lives of young people in schools and communities.

The young people’s comments on the project included:

“I enjoyed the Peace III project because it helped me realise that everyone is just the same despite having different religions or whether they are disabled or not. My opinions are that if I ever meet a person of a different religion in the future I will know we are all the same. This will influence how much religious conflict there is in the future. I think Peace III was a great idea because it made me realise this and helped me to be more mature and understanding about people with disabilities”;

“I really enjoyed the Peace III because it allowed you to make a lot of new friends and it taught you how to work as a team. I really loved the day that we went bowling, it was so much fun. I look forward to more days out with the Peace III project,” and

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I loved taking part in the Peace III project because it proved to me that everyone is equal, no matter what religion or culture they belong to, or whether they are disabled or able bodied. It’s good to meet up with other people and learn about the differences and similarities in each other’s personalities. This will help us in later life to stop religious conflict.”

The project is funded under the European Union’s PEACE III programme managed on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership.

It will continue until 2012, with more young people having the opportunity to contribute positively in their local communities, and further build capacity and skills to challenge racist and sectarian attitudes.

Related topics:NewtownabbeySchoolsLarne