Students promote integrated education

TWO Ulster pupils captured the attention of some of America's leading figures when they acted as ambassadors for the integrated education movement at a gala reception in Washington.

Kelli Burns and Daniel Aiken, both from Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus, were invited to fly to the capital to talk about their experiences of shared learning at a special weekend reception hosted by the American Ireland Fund.

The glittering event - which preceded a gala dinner honouring U2's Bono with an Ireland Fund Humanitarian Award - focused on integrated education in Northern Ireland.

The teenage pair addressed an audience made up of US congressmen, senators, social leaders and Irish American businessmen about their experience of integrated education and of the Ulidia Integrated College story.

They were joined by George W Bush's special envoy to Northern Ireland, Ambassador Richard Haass, who made a gave a keynote speech.

The prestigious occasion was used to launch the Integrated Schools Donor Advised Fund specifically for integrated schools.

And to get it off to a good start, a $$50,000 donation was made by the Board of the Ireland Funds.

Baroness May Blood, chairperson of the Campaign Executive for the new fund was in Washington with the students.

She said the launch of the integrated schools fund was significant.

By Claire Regan : Belfast Telegraph : March 17 2003