WELB and Sligo VEC Peace III Project Creating Cross Border and Cross Community Engagement

Caption: Young people aged between 13-15 years took part in a range of outdoor activities such as canoeing which aimed to develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills. 

The Western Education and Library Board (WELB) in partnership with Sligo VEC, recently organised a cross border student exchange at WELB Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre, Co Fermanagh, as part of Peace III ‘Developing a Shared Society through Youth Sport’ project, a cross border initiative.

Funding received from the European Union Peace and Reconciliation Programme enabled the project to facilitate a student exchange for 40 pupils from St Fanchea’s College Enniskillen, Castlederg High School and Coláiste Iascaigh Sligo to participate in the residential.

The children aged between 13-15 years old took part in a range of outdoor and teambuilding activities such as canoeing, climbing, orienteering, nightline and caving which aimed to develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills on a cross border and cross community basis.

Nicola Canavan, St Fanchea’s College Youth Sport Co-ordinator said. “St Fanchea’s College were delighted to be involved in the Youth Sport West programme. The recent residential at Gortatole allowed the pupils to learn and share new experiences with pupils from different denominations and from across the border.” 

She continued: “They learned about their different cultures and school life and the ice breakers and team building games allowed them to make new friends. Some of the pupils from St Fanchea’s remarked that this was the first time they got to do activities with other pupils outside their own school and local community. This only came about due to the funding afforded by the Youth Sport West programme.”

Ryan Cunningham, WELB Sports Development Officer, said: “This Peace III Youth Sport Project has created opportunities for over 100 exchanges north/south involving 5,000 students over the last few years and continues to offer cross border and cross community interaction between schools that have never worked together before, the relationships developed has created further opportunities to share experience and good practice within our schools.”

Caption: Pupils from St Fanchea's College Enniskillen, Castlederg HS and Coláiste lascaigh who attended the cross border, cross community student exchange at WELB Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre.

Caption: Pupils from St Fanchea's College Enniskillen, Castlederg HS and Coláiste lascaigh learn about their different cultures and school life during the ice-breakers and team building games at the 'Developing a shared society through Youth Sport' initiative.