| The project is coordinated by the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB), the Graduate School of Education at Queen’s University Belfast, and WAVE Trauma Centre.
Young people from across the SELB area, representing schools, youth and community groups and Victims’ Support groups, have been involved in developing the website.
Alexandra Barr, SELB Chief Education Welfare officer, said: “The Enabling Young Voices website will give the young people an opportunity to discuss their experiences of the Northern Ireland Troubles. It will provide an opportunity for them to express their hopes for the future.”
Dr Ruth Leitch of the Graduate School of Education at Queen’s University said: “For too long it has been believed that young people have grown up protected from the political conflict here and have been largely unaffected by it, but the website tells us otherwise. Children have indeed been affected. Young people clearly care deeply about living and growing up in Northern Ireland and what the future holds. Having a forum like this plays a key part in giving rightful voice to our young citizens.”
Alan McBride of Wave Trauma Centre said: “Enabling Young Voices is not only a valuable project for young people directly affected by violence, it also gives a voice to all those who have grown up in a divided society. The resources which have been developed, with the involvement of the young people, will help them to relate to other people in what is an increasingly diverse society.”
As well as being a valuable tool for the young people, www.enablingyoungvoices.org contains resources and materials of use within the school curriculum that teachers from schools across the SELB area have contributed to.
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