Young people leading change - Launch of Sharing Education Together Project -
style="text-align: justify;">The Spirit of Enniskillen Trust will today officially launch its Sharing Education Together peer-led dialogue and learning Project which is supported through the Sharing in Education Programme of the International Fund for Ireland.
To mark the launch of the Project, the Spirit of Enniskillen Trust is bringing together one hundred sixth-form pupils - from sixteen different schools - for a ‘Sharing in Education’ conference in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast.
The conference will be the culmination of a series of Sharing in Education Together events and workshops held in schools over the past year. These workshops have helped pupils develop dialogue and leadership skills so that they can make their own contribution towards a shared and better future for everyone.
Speaking at the launch, Mary Southwell, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: “The Fund is pleased to be supporting this project. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the conference, meeting the young people and seeing at first-hand what is essentially a practical demonstration of the Fund’s strategy at work – enhancing community relations, and promoting reconciliation and sharing.
“We are committed to supporting and facilitating projects that provide opportunities for young people from different community backgrounds to come together to explore common issues and experiences.
“The Sharing Education Together Project will work specifically with sixth-form young people and teachers to facilitate dialogue and learning with other pupils in their own and other schools.”
Minister of Education, Caitríona Ruane commented: “The Sharing Education Together project is an excellent platform on which to build and consolidate peace and reconciliation and celebrate diversity. By engaging with sixth form students and encouraging open and enlightening dialogue between them, the project will help break down barriers and lay the foundations of a more open and diverse society in the future.
“I am pleased that my Department is the managing agent for the Sharing in Education Programme, making use of the financial support from the International Fund for Ireland, and wish all involved every success for the future.”
In the run up to the conference, over the past five months the Spirit of Enniskillen volunteers have been working in schools of all backgrounds and developing personal dialogue skills in many hundreds of pupils. Following this nearly one hundred of these pupils were then selected to participate in further residentials where they continued to explore differences and build on their potential to lead dialogue with others.
One critical area of discussion for the conference will be how pupils can work to support their teachers in delivering learning opportunities amongst their peers who are engaged in the Northern Ireland local and global citizenship curriculum. To close the proceedings a range of participants will feedback to teachers, peers and invited guests on where they would like to use their new skills and energy.
Sinead Loughran,18, a young volunteer from Donaghmore speaks for the many young people involved: “It’s such an encouraging feeling being able to facilitate and work with other young people to look at how
we can make a positive contribution to the future of Northern Ireland.”
James Hyde from Antrim Grammar, one of the young people participating in the Sharing Education Together Project, commented: “It showed me that if I am passionate about something I can and should get stuck in and make an impact.”
The group of Spirit of Enniskillen volunteers believe that it is essential to have committed young people, like these sixth-formers, who can work effectively for better understanding and reconciliation across Northern Ireland. They also feel that leadership needs to be demonstrated rather than taught, and this conference will truly demonstrate young people leading change!
To mark the launch of the Project, the Spirit of Enniskillen Trust is bringing together one hundred sixth-form pupils - from sixteen different schools - for a ‘Sharing in Education’ conference in the Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast.
The conference will be the culmination of a series of Sharing in Education Together events and workshops held in schools over the past year. These workshops have helped pupils develop dialogue and leadership skills so that they can make their own contribution towards a shared and better future for everyone.
Speaking at the launch, Mary Southwell, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: “The Fund is pleased to be supporting this project. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the conference, meeting the young people and seeing at first-hand what is essentially a practical demonstration of the Fund’s strategy at work – enhancing community relations, and promoting reconciliation and sharing.
“We are committed to supporting and facilitating projects that provide opportunities for young people from different community backgrounds to come together to explore common issues and experiences.
“The Sharing Education Together Project will work specifically with sixth-form young people and teachers to facilitate dialogue and learning with other pupils in their own and other schools.”
Minister of Education, Caitríona Ruane commented: “The Sharing Education Together project is an excellent platform on which to build and consolidate peace and reconciliation and celebrate diversity. By engaging with sixth form students and encouraging open and enlightening dialogue between them, the project will help break down barriers and lay the foundations of a more open and diverse society in the future.
“I am pleased that my Department is the managing agent for the Sharing in Education Programme, making use of the financial support from the International Fund for Ireland, and wish all involved every success for the future.”
In the run up to the conference, over the past five months the Spirit of Enniskillen volunteers have been working in schools of all backgrounds and developing personal dialogue skills in many hundreds of pupils. Following this nearly one hundred of these pupils were then selected to participate in further residentials where they continued to explore differences and build on their potential to lead dialogue with others.
One critical area of discussion for the conference will be how pupils can work to support their teachers in delivering learning opportunities amongst their peers who are engaged in the Northern Ireland local and global citizenship curriculum. To close the proceedings a range of participants will feedback to teachers, peers and invited guests on where they would like to use their new skills and energy.
Sinead Loughran,18, a young volunteer from Donaghmore speaks for the many young people involved: “It’s such an encouraging feeling being able to facilitate and work with other young people to look at how
we can make a positive contribution to the future of Northern Ireland.”
James Hyde from Antrim Grammar, one of the young people participating in the Sharing Education Together Project, commented: “It showed me that if I am passionate about something I can and should get stuck in and make an impact.”
The group of Spirit of Enniskillen volunteers believe that it is essential to have committed young people, like these sixth-formers, who can work effectively for better understanding and reconciliation across Northern Ireland. They also feel that leadership needs to be demonstrated rather than taught, and this conference will truly demonstrate young people leading change!
