The goal of the Speedwell Trust is to bring together
Protestant and Catholic children to work towards
building peace. Based in Parkanaur Forest near Dungannon,
the project began in 1991 as a community venture
to integrate Catholic and Protestant primary school
children through a curriculum-based program that
addresses the exploration of the environment and
the need for conservation.
Between 2000 and 2001 Speedwell’s community
relations education program brought together over
16,000 children from 136 Catholic and Protestant
primary schools. In addition, teachers, parents and
volunteers are all given the opportunity to work
together.
| Jean
Kelly of Speedwell Trust -bringing children
together |
|
| The
Secret Garden offers all kinds of delights
for children |
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During 2002, over 17,000 children from 172 nursery,
primary and special schools have been brought together
from across Northern Ireland and the border counties.
This year we will have 20,000 child visits from
195 member schools. All these children engage in
meaningful contact through curriculum based programmes.
Speedwell forges partnerships for these children
not only in a classroom setting, but also on the
various trips the children take to learn about their
shared environment. American Ireland Fund support
helps with the continuing expansion of this valuable
program.
Children visit Speedwell year on year, so now every
summer we say good-bye to many who have been together
at Speedwell for the past eight years of their lives,
taking with them positive memories to balance the
troubles they may encounter elsewhere.
“Children are the
future
— they’re the ones to invest in.
At Speedwell they learn to respect
themselves, each other and
the world we share.”
- Jean Kelly,
Speedwell Trust
(360k -3 mins. at
33k)
What Children
Say
Children are what Speedwell is all about.
Here are some of their comments:
- "Thank you for letting the St. John's children
come so that we could make lots of friends. I made
lots of friends. Thank you, I can't wait to come
again."
Mark :: from a Protestant school
- "Thank you for our lovely day at Speedwell.
My favourite part was when we went looking for
things in the river. Our group got a stickleback
in our tray. I also enjoyed walking around and
looking for pollution. We found wire, wrappers
and foam. I made friends with two Protestant girls."
Catherine :: from a Catholic school
- "My best part was going in the Secret Garden
and I like measuring the rain in the rain gauge.
I like getting to know the children's names from
St. Patrick's."
Michaela :: from a Protestant school
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