Waterside youths on Eastern European visit

Young people from Lincoln Courts joined their Goal Project counterparts in Greggan and in Lifford as they embarked on the study visit to Croatia and Bosnia.

Organisers, Jon McCourt and Wendy McClay, said: “This will be an opportunity for participants to look at how both these countries are dealing with emerging from the aftermath of the war which took place in the 1990’s.

!Of particular interest will be the historic causes of the conflict, the division between two communities, the destruction of economy and infrastructure, the legacy of trauma, memories and memorials. Participants will see the impact of ethnic cleansing and visit the site of a concentration camp. One of our hosts is the only community development organisation in the region,” he said.

They said the young people would have opportunities to discuss with local people the impact of the conflict and the difficulties of reconciliation in a divided post conflict society.

“The group will meet with people who have been impacted on by the conflict, individuals who had been engaged in it and young people who live with the legacy of it. Discussions and workshops will take place with them on the achievements to date and the challenges still to be overcome in the region.

“Particular emphasis will be paid to the impact of local initiatives that are working towards stabilisation and reconciliation. Participants will also learn about areas where relationships have improved and communities have in some cases moved on and how the region is dealing with the legacy of the conflict and building for the future challenged with the absence of funding and very limited resources. Along with local people participants will engage in a memorial project,” they said.

Through their involvement in this project, those taking part will gain the capacity to develop and engage in community-based initiatives which will help address the legacy of our own conflict.

The GOAL project is supported by the PeaceIII Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Community Relations Council/Pobal Consortium.