Present work of the Trust
To date over one thousand young people, experienced in dialogue and leadership skills through the Explore programme, are now working across society in Northern Ireland, very many with other young people. Explore continues to develop strongly each year.
In Belfast, the Future Voices follow-up group run well attended weekly 'dialogue on contentious issues' workshops, backed up by a full programme of other activities developing the understanding, awareness and skills of all involved. They also have an on-line forum of over one hundred members.
The Together Local and Global Citizenship in schools initiative continues to develop steadily in the range and depth of the 'dealing with difference' services it offers to pupils, teachers and management in schools.
Ancillary activities have established the mentoring of a similar inter-schools programme in Oldham supporting dialogue between mainly white and Asian muslim young people following the tensions arising there from the 2001 riots.
The Voice mentoring system is currently building the facilitation capacity of dozens of young volunteers to open dialogue and learning on the issues that need dealt with positively for society to move forward.
The Media group of Future Voices are working in the production of multi-media resources for training and presentation puposes across this work.
Other overseas initiatives are supporting similar good relations work between
- Swedish and immigrant young people in Biskopsgarden, Gothenborg;
- YouCan in Edmonton with first nation and other young Canadians
- Soma Akriton with young Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus.
All of these groups engage in annual youth exchanges with Northern Ireland through the Spirit of Enniskillen.
The Trust also works with:
- The Penobscot Job Corps, Bangor, Maine
- The Cascades Job Corps, Washington state
- Education for International Living
- The Future world leaders conference, Washington
- School for International Training, Brattleborough, Vermont
- The United States Institute for Peace, Washington
- Bluffton University, United States
Facilitative leadership & dealing with difference
In deeply divided communities, the Spirit of Enniskillen Trust is engaging the energy, idealism and committment of young people into the building of a shared future in a fair and diverse society.
On the assumption that young people are curious about themselves and others, and also have a real need to make their own contribution for the good, the Trust operates as an active culture of youth participation, dialogue and learning.
This participative environment is nurtured through an open working practice and a conscious progression of building blocks that encourage the mutual ownership and learning of all who are involved.
Within this culture young peoples' potential is then developed through a sequence of local and international learning programmes, all now delivered by experienced past-participants who are themselves modelling leadership and facilitating the process of 'dialogue, learning and good relations'.
Through this young people become significantly more secure in their own personal sense of identity whilst at the same time, becoming more understanding and sensitive of the hopes and concerns of those who are different.
Importantly, they also develop the understanding, attitudes and skills needed to support others into dialogue and learning on sensitive issues.
Participants are then encouraged to use this newfound capacity in their personal and social networks throughout society, supported through the follow-up projects of the Trust.
The clear experience of the Spirit of Enniskillen is that when given the appropriate support, young people are deeply commited to making their own personal and powerful contribution to this work.
The Trust can now call upon the help of an active pool of over fifty experienced young facilitators giving freely of their time to work in schools and the community, and contributing to an inclusive and fair society where no one will feel left behind.
The integrity, optimism and commitment of these young volunteers is now making a positive contribution to community cohesion, integration and the acceptance of diversity across society.