different voices 4

VOLUNTEERS ‘FOCUS’ ON YOUNG PEOPLE’S VIEWS

=Volunteers share their stories! Isolation explored

By: Grace (16), Emma

(17), Aine (17), Fiona

(17), Megan (17) and

Michael (18)

HAVE YOURSAY!

=

Issue 4A newsletter by Foyle

HEADLINERS volunteers

are playing a key role in

representing the views of

young people and how they

are portrayed in the media in

Northern Ireland as part of a

unique study by Queen’s

University, Belfast.

The Headliners volunteers

formed the very first focus

group in PhD student Faith

Gordon’s study.

Faith said: “I want to find out

what children and young people

think about how the media

portray them, as often people

don’t ask children and young

people their views.”

Focus group volunteers; Grace,

Emma, Aine, Fiona, Megan and

Michael all took time out to talk

about their thoughts on the

topic as well as giving

suggestions on how things could

be improved.

“At Headliners we try to be the

antidote to the bad press young

people get by reporting on good

things that young people do. I did a

story on young carers who don’t

get the recognition they deserve. In

a newspaper any good story about

young people, like GCSE or A-level

results is kinda done in a

patronising way.” Grace (16)

“I think it's important for us to get

young people's views on issues that

affect them. Most newspapers look

at issues from adults' perspectives.”

Emma (17)

“Every story you would see in a

newspaper about a topic like

racism is pretty much like another,

we look for more personal stories.”

Michael (17)

“Anybody that does volunteering

should get more media coverage.”

Megan (17)

“I think young people in sports

teams should get more coverage.”

Aine (17)

“Young people's mental health is

completely glossed over in the

media.” Grace (16)

“There should be a newspaper

column where young people give

their response to that week's

stories.” Emma (17)

These informed opinions will now

form part of Faith’s doctural

document as well as future

reports, books, articles and

lectures she gives.

“Headliners “Headliners

is an outletis an outlet

to challengeto challenge

bad news.” bad news.”

Aine (17)Aine (17)

Headliners Foyle members share their insights and opinions with Queens University PhD student Faith Gordon

(far right).

DIFFERENT VOICES

DIFFERENT VOICES

Issue 4 Different Voices.Fiona:Layout 1 12/01/2011 10:19

Your views our news____________

This newsletter was published by Headliners Foyle, Suite 2, 23 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6PR, Tel: 02871309397, E:[email protected]

2 Different Voices, Issue 4

PAGE 3 - Former Headliner volunteer and member, NiallBradley, shares the benefits of volunteering.

PAGE 4 - Out and about: Headliners Foyle picturespecial.

PAGES 5 to 7 - A shared history - a shared experience.Catholic and Protestant volunteers explore thefutility of war in Belgium.

PAGES 8 and 9 - Break Out - young people in Letterkenny

spotlight their photographic talents on the theme of isolation.

PAGE 10 - Racism in the North West - visitors give theirviews.

PAGE 11 - Community PlacementOrganisation (CPO)Foyle View Special School shares the views ofyoung people living with disabilities.

PAGE 12- How to contact and volunteer at Headliners.

WELCOME to Issue 4 of

Different Voices which is

bursting with ideas and

articles on issues affecting

young people in the North

West today.

In this issue, we bring you up-to-date

with the latest events that

Headliners’ Foyle Bureau volunteers

have been attending as well as

hearing what’s in the hearts and

minds of young people across the

area.

International visitors gave us their

thoughts and views on racism in the

North West, especially in light of the

announcement that Derry will be

City of Culture in 2013.

Young volunteers from the Foyle

Bureau who joined a cross-

community delegation on a visit to

the battlefields of the First World

War reflect on their experiences and

the futility of war.

Letterkenny young people involved in

a Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,

Transgender support organisation

got snap-happy with their cameras to

illustrate their feelings of isolation

and how they could feel more

integrated, while Foyle Headliners

volunteers captured their time at

Foyle View Special School.

You can also enjoy the picture special

which documents the activities of

local volunteers when they got out

and about in the North West as well

as welcoming new members from

further afield.

We always want to hear your

views on what we’re doing,

find all our contact details on

the back cover.

We hope you enjoy catching up

with all our news!

CO

NTEN

TS


Different Voices, Issue 4 3

How did you find out about

Headliners?

I heard in 2001 when staff

from Headliners came to my

school and told us about the

organisation, what they do

and what they could offer us

as members and volunteers.

How long were you a

member?

Roughly speaking, I was a

member for six years. This

includes time I spent as a

volunteer.

What were you like as a

person back then?

When I first began I was a

shy, introverted individual

with few close friends.

However, as I began to feel

more comfortable in the

bureau, I started to speak out

more and offer more

opinions. I made myself

more known to other

members and this eventually

led to some of the closest

friendships I could ever have

hoped for. Not only did I

become more socially

confident but my confidence

in writing, filming, editing

and general life skills

increased ten-fold. I was able

to inject my opinions into

debates and issues that I

would have otherwise

avoided. through Headliners.

Do you feel that joining

Headliners helped you meet

people?

Oh, most definitely! Had I

not made the wide range of

friends and met the friendly

staff that I have through the

years – I would still be a shy,

somewhat childish individual

with quite possibly no real

social skills to speak of.

How much did you learn

about journalism?

Film was always a passion,

but Headliners ignited a

spark in me not only for the

thematic aspects of film, but

also the practical hands-on

elements of the process. I got

the opportunity to work with

the BBC and a production

team associated with the

nationally acclaimed Nerve

Centre in Derry. As far as

journalism/radio is

concerned, I had the

opportunity to write for both

local and national media

outlets and, due to this, I

currently write for various

university and external

magazines.

What other new experiences

did you have at Headliners?

I have been able to apply new

technical skills specifically in

film. Film is a difficult and

somewhat torturous task,

but, with the skills given to

me by Headliners I was able

to receive a grade A at A-

level and have my final film

piece submitted into the

Foyle Film Festival Orchard

Award for young film-

makers. I also had a

Headliners produced film

showcased at the Foyle Film

Festival. In working with the

BBC I got the opportunity to

have three news pieces shown

on BBC Northern Ireland.

Do you feel that joining

Headliners had an impact on

your school work?

It is because of Headliners

that I am currently sitting in

a Computer Lab at the

University of Ulster

Coleraine Campus studying

English. It is why I’m an

active and vocal member of

the Students Union (sitting on

various committees including

the overall committee). It is

why I have a passion for

literature, journalism, film

and media in general. It is

why I try to read as many

newspapers as possible in a

day. It is why I received 10

GCSEs and four A-levels. I

owe so much to Headliners as

far as my studies and my

potential career in the United

Nations are concerned.

What were the most

challenging times for you?

Easily the most challenging,

and yet most engaging and

exciting, was the BBC Blast

programme and the First

Light film project. Under

both I was given a certain

amount of freedom to direct

the projects and I was trusted

enough to ensure they

operated smoothly. Both were

major successes for me

personally and for all those

involved.

What was the most enjoyable

part of Headliners?

The most enjoyable part of

all projects I did with

Headliners, was the close knit

teamwork. Each member was

given the opportunity to add

their own ideas, come up with

solutions to problems and

generally run aspects of each

project. Also the fact that we

did so amongst friends was

great.

If you could change anything

about your time in

Headliners what would it be?

That I moved to Coleraine

full-time to concentrate on

studies as it does not allow

me to continue to work with

Headliners as a volunteer.

Hopefully, once my degree is

complete I can come back

and give back to such a great

place.

Has your Headliners

experience shaped your

outlook on life?

Well I know from personal

experience how much

Headliners can do in making

a difference to the lives of

young people. It helped me

through the death of my

brother and showed me that

although there is evil in the

world, an equal or elevated

amount of kind-heartedness

and decency also exists.

Would you recommend

Headliners to others?

In this day and age it is less

likely that a graduate student

will get a career job with that

qualification alone. However,

I feel that because of the

exemplary training that I

received I have higher

chances than most to find a

job in my desired career.

Also I have the social skills to

find the friends and create

the family that will hopefully

make my future incredibly

prosperous personally and

financially.

Due to this I would

recommend it to absolutely

everybody.

I would like to point out that

reminiscing on past

experiences with Headliners

has put a great big smile on

my face even though I face

looming exams.

Aspiring film director and former Headliners member/volunteer Niall (20) reveals how

Headliners continues to impact on his professional and personal life

By: Sharmin (19)

A blast from

the past


Eimer and David use the recording equipment for the first time

during the Buncrana outreach project.

A group of Japanese students share their stories about studying in

Derry.

Megan from Buncrana uses new journalism skills with

Michael, Headliners volunteer from Mencap.

Volunteers with Colum Eastwood, Mayor of Derry and Deirdre Harte,

Temporary Programme Manager, Peace III NW Cluster at the launch of

Foyle Pride where Headliners’ homophobia photography exhibition was

showcased.

Headliners volunteer Tola (17) assists with filming at the Foyle

Pride launch.

Assessing the news during an outreach session in Strabane are

Orla (14) and Leanne (14).

Lights, camera action!A round-up of Headliners Foyle in pictures

Young people reflect on their Belgium

experience and the futility of war

Making a statement ...



Young people reflect on their Belgium

experience and the futility of war

Making a statement ...

(Right) Headliners Foyle member Eimear makes a presentation to the

audience at the Messines Experience certificate ceremony in Buncrana.

In March 2010, three groups of

Protestant and Catholic

volunteers from Glengad in

Donegal, Derry and Belfast took

part in a project exploring war

and conflict resolution which

included visits to Derry’s historic

walls, Fort Dunree, the Somme

Centre and the Boyne Centre.

These young people then travelled to

Belgium for the Messines Experience

where they visited many cemeteries,

monuments and other places of

interest.

In the course of this project,

everyone received an OCN

accreditation.

Here, we hope to offer some insight into

the challenging and rewarding project

through reflection and on-site feedback

from the young people.

Those taking part said they did so for the

following reasons: friendship; a bit of

craic; the chance to go to Belgium; to

meet new people from different cultures

that we wouldn’t normally meet; and to

learn about war and conflict and World

War 1.

“Before Belgium we visited the Somme Centre in

Belfast where we could see first hand the conditions

in the trenches in WW1. It was dedicated to the

Irish soldiers lost in the Battle of the Somme and

here we all realised the vast number of men who

gave their lives for their country.

The things we found most shocking were - rats,

underage people going to war, you got shot if you

fell asleep and how many people died in WW1.”

(Jamie)

“In Belgium we visited one of the four graveyards

dedicated to German soldiers. The atmosphere is

completely different to that of the Commonwealth

memorials. There are several mass graves and the

headstones are black whereas the British

cemeteries had white headstones and less of an

eerie feel to them.

Some of the comments made at the time were:

“The British one is nicer, more looked after”; “The

British one is brighter and more peaceful, “I

disliked the way they put the Germans into a mass

grave”.

“We visited Thiepval

Memorial where there are

the names of 72,000 soldiers

who were never found.”(Andrew)

When we were in Belgium, we visited Thiepval

memorial where there are the names of 72,000

soldiers who were never found. We also visited the

grave of John Conden the youngest recorded

soldier lost in the war, he was merely 14 years old.

We also visited Tynecot Cemetery which is the

largest Commonwealth graveyard with 12,000

graves and 35,000 names of soldiers who went

missing in action.

There is a cross in the centre of the cemetery which

allowed us to climb up and get a view of the vast

number of headstones.

Andrew, (16), Taughmona: “I enjoyed climbing up

the cross.

Samuel (16), Taughmona: “I enjoyed getting to

know everyone and finding out about John

Conden.”

Samuel (15), Taughmona: “It was good getting to

learn more stuff about the war.”

Everyone involved in the Messines Experience was

impacted by the fact that Protestants and Catholics

set aside their differences to fight alongside each

other in this war.

One of the most thought provoking visits in

Belgium was to Major Willie Redmond’s grave.

Redmond was an Irish Catholic MP serving in the

16th Irish Division who was wounded in the Battle

of Messines.

Private John Meek from Ballymoney was a

Protestant stretcher-bearer in the 36th Ulster

Division who came to Redmond’s aid by helping

him off the battlefield.

Meek, a member of the original Ulster Volunteer

Force, would’ve strongly opposed Redmond’s

nationalist ideas and yet he disobeyed orders and

risked his own life to help his comrade in arms.

The spirit of brotherhood gave all the young people

on the project food for thought as they returned to

Northern Ireland where divisions and sectarianism

are still commonplace in many communities.

The Messines Experience will stay with all the

young people involved for years to come. It will

hopefully help to inform our decisions and

behaviour as adults in the future when faced with

war, conflict and sectarianism in our own lives and

communities.

The aim of the Messines Experience was to make

us young people realise the effects of war and

conflict - “My outlook on war has changed because

the 36th and 16th came together to fight in the

war.” Samuel, 16

So the Messines Experience gets the thumbs up

from everyone - apart from one little detail.

“Would change getting up early!” was a common

complaint! It would appear that some people didn’t

get enough beauty sleep!

By Eimear (17)



“T

he

fa

ct

tha

t C

ath

oli

cs a

nd

Pro

testa

nts

fo

ug

ht

tog

eth

er

in W

W1

ma

ke

s y

ou

wo

nd

er

wh

y t

hey

sti

ll f

igh

t w

ith

ea

ch

oth

er

so

mu

ch

.”

'“I

sa

t a

t th

e P

oo

l o

f P

ea

ce

in

Be

lgiu

m w

he

re a

ma

ssiv

e e

xp

losio

n h

ap

pe

ne

dd

uri

ng

WW

1 a

nd

I r

ea

lly

sta

rte

d t

o q

ue

sti

on

my

de

cis

ion

ab

ou

t jo

inin

g t

he

“It still makes me sad to think

about John Condon dying in a war

at only 14 when he should have

been enjoying his life, looking

forward to the future.”

“I kept wondering what was going through men’s heads when they were dying in the trenches. Was the war

really worth it?”

“T

he

re n

ev

er w

as a

go

od

wa

r or a

ba

d p

ea

ce.”

“In

pe a

ce, s

ons

b ury

the

ir f a

the r

s; in

war

, fat

hers

bu r

y t h

eir

sons

.”

Young people reflect...



Young people reflect...


“The longer we have wars in

the world the more cynical

we will become.”

“The WW1 mass graves with hundreds of men buried

in them really show what a waste of life war is.”

“You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.”


Dip into Break Out‘COMING out’ is a major issue for any young person

living anywhere in the world, but Headliners wanted

to find out if gay teenagers here in the North West

region of Donegal felt anymore isolated because of the

rural nature of the county.

Most of the young people we

spoke to agreed that they felt

Donegal was a lot less open

than larger urban areas like

Dublin, but they’ve found out

that there is an outlet for them

in their midst in the form of the

Break Out group which meets

every week in Letterkenny.

We went along to hear their views on

feeling isolated – and challenged them

to express those emotions through the

medium of photography.

The thought-provoking work

displayed opposite is by Karen (top);

Chris (centre left); Kevin (centre

right); and Michelle (bottom).

Kevin (18), who is in his final year at

school in Letterkenny, said: “In a

county like Donegal - I think it’s the

third largest - I think it’s important

we branch out to another service in

West Donegal, in the Gaeltacht area,

because to make people come in from

that distance is a bit much. We could

have smaller services in different

places, even just a couple of gay

friends, you don’t need a huge group,

it’s just to feel connected to

something. We are a big county and

it’s not like we have a train or regular

bus service, well we do have a couple

of buses, but if you weren’t in a

financial situation to pay every

Saturday, it’s isolating you again.”

He added: “Now that Break Out has

changed the age limit, we’re

launching the whole thing to get more

people in; people don’t know what

the service does and why they should

go but it’s just to meet other people

and have fun. We could let people

know by having posters in every

conceivable place, even corner shops

in the middle of nowhere, cause

chances are someone there will see

it.”

“A lot of people still don’t know the

group’s here and even if they do,

they’re not 100% sure what it is, a lot

of people think it’s a counselling

service!” said Karen (17).

Another 17-year-old girl added: “I

think the most important thing is just

to be there for anyone who is LGBT,

we’re here in the group and we’re

ready to talk to anyone who is

experiencing isolation.”

Nineteen-year-old college student

Chris said: “Most young people don’t

have confidence to tell anyone, not

just confidence in themselves but

confidence in their friends and family.

Having good examples of these

situations where everything turns out

alright is a good way for a lot of

young people to get confidence.

“Most of the time when you see a

LGBT film, it’s usually negative, the

stories are usually sad and emotional

but they’re not always like that, it

kind of gives the bad side, never the

good side of the story.

“Groups like this, Break Out, are

really good but there is the problem

in the rural areas as well. Technology

is always improving and

communication is always expanding

so through all forms of media there is

all this information getting out.

Access of information would, in short,

be the best way to help to improve

these things.”

It seems, then, that technology can

play its part in bringing people

together but nothing beats the human

touch.

By: Chris (16)



9Different Voices, Issue 4


Grace (16) from Headliners chats to international students at Cafe del Mondo’s Friendship Club.

“ ...when they think

they’ re different,

that’ s the start of

the problems.”

Indeed, as this

statement went to print

one Chinese family

living in Derry was still

reeling from the shock

of a racially motivated

attack on their

business.

Young people are believed to

have bombarded the family

with on-going harassment

including racist, offensive

remarks.

So, is Derry a racist place?

Do foreign visitors feel happy

living and working here?

Many international students

living in Derry drop into

Café del Mondo’s Friendship

Club. We went along to ask

how they found life in the

Maiden City.

Angela said: “I think the

biggest problem is finding a

job. And I think the Irish

people have a problem with

alcohol. They drink a lot

compared to Spanish people,

I think that the Irish people

drink too much.”

She added: “Racism exists

when people don’t

understand the customs of

the people.

Georgia said: “Your

background, your culture, all

these things make you afraid

of the other person, that’s

where racism comes from.”

Abdul agreed: “I think it’s

just because of ignorance,

people don’t know what the

other people can contribute

to their society. They don’t

make them feel welcome,

education needs to be given

to the people.”

Co-ordinators of the

Friendship Club believe fear

of difference must be turned

into understanding of

variety.

In the future, it would be

great if everyone in Derry -

and around the world - could

think like Friendship Club

member Emilio: “Every

human being is the same, the

difference is the colours

because of the climates,

inside is the same red blood.”

But, unfortunately against

this backdrop it seems that

there are still some in our

midst who refuse to

acknowledge and accept the

cultures and colours of

others, with hate crimes

continuing to rise in the

region.

One step being taken to combat the

problem has been the setting up by

SEEDS of the ethnic minority

Friendship Club. Along with the

PSNI, it has launched the Hands

Off My Friends campaign which

encourages people to report crimes

to anyone they feel comfortable

with.

Abdul enjoys going along to the

club where he can meet other

international visitors as well as

local young people. He said: “I

lived in Sheffield where there was a

lot for the international community

but here I didn’t find that. But the

world is becoming a global village,

so everyone needs to know

everyone else’s culture, how to get

along with them, because they’re

going to have to go to different

places to do business.”

The young people at the Friendship

Club agree that the Hands Off My

Friends campaign is a good idea as

foreigners may not be inclined to go

to the police especially if they feel it

was a one-off incident.

Sabrina said: “Maybe they think,

‘OK, it’s just one person so I can

accept one time, why not?’. Also

you are afraid because you don’t

know if the police will understand

you and listen to you or view you as

a stupid person.”

To combat racism, she suggests: “I

think to meet foreigners, to speak

with others and try to understand

our culture because we try to

understand the Irish culture and I

like it. Maybe they wouldn’t be

afraid of us and understand that

it’s not necessary to be racist and,

little by little, people will know that

even if there are foreigners and

diversity, we can live altogether.”

Let’s hope everyone here takes

these ideas on board so that our

city really can celebrate all

cultures, not just in 2013 but every

year.

Racism Hate Division Difference

“ You are afraid because

you don’ t know if the

police will understand

you and listen to you or

take you as a

stupid person.”

‘I believe there are low level hate incidences

that happen on a day and daily basis. People

out there are suffering in silence.’

This is a quote about Derry City on a

Canadian website called ‘Stand up to Hate’.

THE City of Culture celebrations are continuing

in the North West and most people are eagerly

anticipating 2013 when Derry can showcase all

that is great and good about the area.

Is Derry a racist place? -

foreign residents speak out. By Grace (16)



Snapshots of a really special summer...

“The biggest thing is a lack ofinformation. Rhiannon’s mum is a socialworker, so we were ahead of the curvewhen she first started showing signs ofher disease, but so many parents haven’tgot a clue where to go, or who to speakto, it’s a real problem, I think.”

“Just try to help out more

and give them support, help

them so they feel they’re

being listened to.”

“I feel that they need a biggervoice, more light shed on theirown needs, their ownopportunities.”

“I think there are not enough

after school clubs for young

disabled people - it’s hard for

disabled people to find

somewhere to go, so I think it

would be better if there were

more things open for them.”

“I don’t think the disabledare ignored entirely, but

they could beacknowledged a lot more.”

“Just treat them the way you treat all other children, and just do what you can

for them and make sure that they’re happy.”

“I just love my work, I just love working with the young people. As long as the children are safe

and happy then that’s me doing my job looking after them.”

Headliners Volunteers visited one of our Community Placement Organisations (CPO), Foyle View Special

School during their Summer Scheme and spoke to young people with special needs and disabilities, their

parents and carers about how best they could be involved in the media - and society in general. Here’s a

snapshot of the responses.



This newsletter was published by Headliners Foyle, Suite 2, 23 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6PR, Tel: 02871309397, E:[email protected]

This

DO YOU WANT TO BE A VOLUNTEER?

Contact us in: Headliners Foyle, First Floor, Suite 2,

23 Bishop Street, Derry / Londonderry, BT48 6PR. Tel: 028 7130 9397.

Mobile: (Audrey) 07759558807. Email: [email protected]

Mobile: (Malachy) 07809873761. Email: [email protected]

Web: www.headliners.org

Volunteer Today!

This project has been funded by the Department of Education (Millennium Volunteers).


different voices 4

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