| Community
Dialogue Down
Youth Programme - Pilot
Community
Dialogue Youth Group
Who
are we?
We
are a cross-community group of 18-22 year olds from
Northern Ireland, mainly greater Belfast.
What
do we do?
We
spend time together on residentials and at a monthly
activity group. This gives us the opportunity to
question the viewpoint of others, not of our background,
religion or community. We have designed a logo for a
local charity, made a video, traveled North and South,
taken part in cultural exchanges, and visited museums,
theatres and conferences.
Why do we do
it?
We
get a lot of fun, a lot of information and support
from other young people who feel as confused as we do
about the history and politics of Northern Ireland. We
learn a lot about our own values and traditions, which
is useful when we
have to explain the situation to others.
We also get the opportunity to explain the
importance of some of our traditions, and why they mean
so much to us. We are beginning to realize why others
are so forceful about defending their traditions and
practices.
What
don’t we do?
We
don’t constantly argue about politics, we listen to
others and try to understand where they are coming from.
If we don’t identify with what is being said, we say
so. Dialogue is not about believing everything you hear;
it’s about the opportunity to hear another perspective
and having the freedom to question it.
What’s
next?
We
want to continue meeting and to bring more young people
into Community Dialogue so they can benefit from the
programme.
Youth
Residential - 1
Gartan
Outdoor Pursuits Center, Letterkenny
Gartan
Outdoor Adventure Centre
  
Dinner time!
I'm not scared.
Honestly.
Cross-Community-Canoe-Couping-Club .
The
morning after the night
before
Cheese!
Whose hand is
that?
You
Belfast kids think your so hard!
Back to the Shankill
Youth Residential -
2
Tollymore
Mountain Center - Newcastle
What
sort of Northern Ireland would you like to see for your
kids?
"An
end to the sectarian colours' in estates, so that people
could actually live together"
"More
Integrated Schools"
"Good
Wages; Industrial Investment. Too much emphasis on
tourism."
"A
lot less sectarian baggage than our parents"
"No
Paramilitaries"
"No
Punishment squads"
"I'd
like to move away from rehashing the past"
"I
know my parents fear change, but I would welcome the
opportunity, the old ways didn't work, why not risk
something new."
Community Dialogue Down
21 Shimna Road,
Newcastle
BT33 0EE
Tel: 028 4372 6670
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