Over 100 young people in successful Limavady project

The Good Relations project involved young people from community associations in the Glens estate, the Coolessan estate, the Roe Valley Residents Association and the Bovally Community Association.

20 volunteers helped with the activities, for the young people aged from four years to 17 years of age, including ‘ice-breakers’, teambuilding games, group discussions, arts and crafts and drama workshops.

These workshops were designed to encourage the young people to work together and to provide opportunities for them to explore each other’s cultures and traditions. The youth at the project also looked at some of the prejudices and stereotypes that exist within their own communities and society as a whole, and set about trying to challenge these negative stereotypes and prejudices.

Catherine Loughrey, a youth worker for Roe Valley Residents Association said: Glencoolvalleys is the first initiative that has successfully brought young people and volunteers from four neighbouring estates together.

“The young people have developed mutual respect, trust and have a better appreciation for each other. The project has also developed positive working relationships between the volunteers and has helped remove some of the barriers and fears that existed.”

Jackie McCurry, Bovalley Community Association Chairperson said: “This project was great for the young people, they all got on well together and have made new friends. Each age group had a social outing, the Juniors went to Cheeky Chimps Coleraine, the Intermediates and Seniors both attended Carrowmena Activity Centre where they took part in a range of team-building games, watersports and wall climbing.”

Glencoolvalleys Project was funded through Limavady Borough Council, Good Relations.