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New project for Donegal's young
25.01.10
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YOUNG people in
Inishowen are taking part in a new project exploring
issues such as prejudice, sectarianism, racism and
diversity. The one-year Peace III-funded project
called Cross Border Connections is being run by the
Donegal Youth Work Consortium in partnership with
the Donegal Youth Service. Currently, project
workers Louise Lynch and Helen Simms are delivering
workshops to groups in Cockhill as well as Fanad,
Downings, Pettigo, Killybegs and Ballintra. They
will focus on delivering accredited training through
the Open College Network and undertaking cross
border projects in the new year.
Charlene Logue, senior youth worker at the Donegal
Youth Service, will have responsibility for
overseeing the development of Cross Border
Connections. |
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“I am pleased to be
part of a countywide cross border programme that
will address sectarianism, prejudice and racism with
young people and adult volunteers across the border
areas of Donegal, West Tyrone and Fermanagh.
"This unique programme will directly challenge
attitudes and misconceptions among communities
across the physical and imagined divide. We have
recruited a strong team of professionally trained
youth and community workers who have the skills
necessary to engage and work with young people and
adults," said Ms Logue.
Team leader Julie McGrory added: |
"We began by mapping
out the county, to address where the need lies for
this type of project before seeking expressions of
interest from youth groups all over Donegal with the
support of the VEC.
"Already, we have had an influx of demand from all
areas of the county and will be doing our best to
ensure that as many groups as possible benefit in
some way from Cross Border Connections over the
coming year."
Meanwhile, Garry Martin, secretary, Donegal Peace
and Reconciliation Partnership said one of the
objectives under the Donegal Peace III Action Plan
was to develop better relations between people at a
local level.
"Cross border youth work was challenging during the
conflict and now that we have the opportunity we
want to make sure that young people on both sides of
the border get to know and understand each other
better, rather than regarding each other as
‘different’ or ‘threatening’," he said.
"This project should contribute greatly to this
objective and on behalf of all the Partnership
members I want to wish the project every success in
the coming year’. |
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