The purpose of the Enabling Young Voices (EYV) project is to provide a variety of opportunities through which young people in the Southern Education and Library Board can share their experiences of the Northern Ireland conflict, helping themselves and others.

This work involves:

Listening

To and recording young people’s and teachers’ views and experiences about the effects of the troubles on their lives, past and present.

Supporting

Young people who have been affected in the past by the Northern Ireland conflict.

Raising awareness

Among young people and teachers about the effects of the Northern Ireland conflict.

Creating

A range of resources and activities that are drawn from young people’s and teachers’ experiences of the conflict.

The EYV team consists of:

An Education Welfare Officer
A Teacher
A Youth Worker

The EYV team carries out its work in schools and youth organisations in the Southern Education and Library Board Area. We listen to young people, encouraging them to discuss their views and experiences of life in Northern Ireland. We work supportively with young people who have been personally affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland. We are providing creative projects in schools and youth organisations, enabling young people to explore their feelings about the Northern Ireland Conflict.

The Outcomes for the Project are:

• An increased awareness of the effects of the Northern Ireland conflict on young people

• The provision of support for young people who have been victims of the Northern Ireland conflict.

• The creation of a website, for young people and teachers to facilitate the exploration of aspects of the Northern Ireland conflict.

• The provision of resources and training for teachers who are exploring aspects of the Northern Ireland conflict with young people.

• A written report of the research findings and recommendations.

• A directory of support services.

The EYV project is funded by the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, supported under the Victims’ Strategy Implementation Fund: Reshape, Rebuild, Achieve. The EYV team is co-ordinated by

• Graduate School of Education Queen’s University, Belfast

• Southern Education and Library board

• WAVE Trauma Centre, Belfast

For further details about the project contact one of the EYV team members:

Grace Black g.black@qub.ac.uk

Denise McKee Denise.mckee@qub.ac.uk