A Community Relations Continuum

Context:

The transition from violent conflict to a sustainable peace in Northern Ireland continues to be a fragile and difficult process. VAC has a vision to engage young people in discussions across religious divides in order to improve community relations and encourage a “Culture of Tolerance”. Northern Ireland is still a highly segregated society with 95% of children attending schools segregated by religion and 80% of social housing being segregated. This sustained segregation means that the need for community relations work is as important now as it ever has been. VAC has been implementing community relations programmes since 1991. These have been funded by a number of sources including the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

The Verbal Arts Centre believes that language is pivotal in Community Relations work and this is why our community relations programme forms an integral part of the work of the Verbal Arts Centre. The Community Relations projects which we undertake have a strong emphasis on communication. This belief in the importance of communication is shared by those involved in Northern Ireland Politics. The “A Shared Future” document states that it is through dialogue that differences might be resolved. We are keen to facilitate an environment where young people can openly discuss the impact of the past on their lives and their hopes for the future in a “safe space”. It is these young people who are the custodians of the future.

Recent research has indicated that children as young as three can recognise diversity and hold sectarian views. Recommendations made in Children and the Conflict in Northern Ireland: The Experiences and Perspectives of 3 -11 Year Olds (Connolly and Healy, 2004) suggest that groups working the area of community relations should be working with children from the age of 3. This evidence proves the need for early intervention with children in the foundation stage of education. If young people are not given the opportunity to meet and mix with their peers from other areas from a young age they are unlikely to mix in adulthood.