July 31, 2002
“I’m going to have new experiences, different experiences, and I am going to gain a new friend,” said Aideen Doran of her trip to the United States and her new friend Rosemary Greensfield. Nothing remarkable one might say, but Doran is a Catholic from Northern Ireland who has struck a friendship with a Protestant, Greensfield, from her native land that has witnessed strife between the two faiths for a thousand years. The two are in the U.S. under the Children’s Friendship Project of Northern Ireland, a program that has been on its feet since 1987.
“Hopefully the kids will mature and learn that Catholics don’t have two heads and Protestants don’t have tails,” said Skip Jones, one of the hosts of the program. Skip and his wife Carol Jones of Reston joined the program because their contributions as a host would be “extremely beneficial to that area of the world (Northern Ireland). Hopefully they will go back with a bond.” And Skip Jones also felt that in a small way he was bettering the world.
The Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland Inc. seeks to build understanding between Catholic and Protestant teenagers and their families in Northern Ireland. Teenagers are selected and paired in cross-cultural teams to spend four weeks with a host family in the United States. The program hopes that a neutral environment will encourage friendship and understanding between the teenagers. The ultimate goal of the program is to create future leaders of Northern Ireland.
JIM AND STEPHANIE KELLY, of Fairfax, the hosts of Doran and Greensfield, have participated in the project for four years. The Kellys have gone twice to Northern Ireland to better acquaint themselves with the teens they hosted and their families. While her husband’s Irish background is a factor, Stephanie Kelly joined the program to meet interesting people from different countries. Most importantly, she believes, “that in some small way I’m helping out the troubles in Northern Ireland.”
The program sponsors teenagers from the ages of 15-18. They come from all over Northern Ireland, but are paired according to geographic proximity, in hopes that the teenagers can meet and interact before and after the trip. The selection is based on essays and personal references that are submitted by the teenagers.
This year, 60 teenagers from Northern Ireland — drawn equally from both faiths — made the trip here.
Anthony Campbell, 17, is a Catholic, from Port Stewart, Northern Ireland. He has spent the last 14 years in the town. Campbell heard of the program and from a friend of his mother's and saw what he called, "the opportunity of a lifetime." Richard Marden, a Protestant, lived in the town of Limady Valley and was introduced to the program by his aunt. Campbell met Marden a while back in Northern Ireland and developed a friendship.
“The Program Is Concentrated more on how to build relationships and bridging gaps than talking about politics,” said Sharon Harroun, the coordinator of the program in the area. According to Harroun, the program works in three phases. The first phase involves a pre-departure program before the United States trip, which involves forming small groups of teenagers and their parents in Northern Ireland's six counties. Within these groups, meetings are held, gatherings take place, and family retreats are planned.
The second phase of the program comprises the teenagers departure to the United States for four weeks. The teens arrived in the U.S. on July 2 and are scheduled to leave on July 28. Harroun's job in the second phase is to promote the friendship between the teens through interaction, give them experience with Protestant and Catholic peers, and emphasize leadership qualities.
THE ACTIVITIES the teenagers engage in range from roundtable discussions to voluntary work. Recently the teens from Northern Ireland participated in a discussion with ambassador Richard Haas.
In addition the teens will be participating in a three-day seminar, the first of which will be spent dealing with conflict solution. The following days they will be volunteering in the district and participate in a White House briefing with presidential aides. Other activities have included a team-building day at Camp Hemlock at George Mason University, and a car wash to raise money for next year’s teenagers.
“There are no conflicts between the teenagers. They meet each other often for activities and enjoy each other's company,” said Rosemary Hamel who, with her husband Scott Hamel, of Vienna, host Richard Marden and Anthony Campbell.
Campbell spoke about the program, saying, "There's never been any fighting. Everyone is here to enjoy themselves."
It isn’t all work and no play. The teenagers from Northern Ireland have some time for more recreational activities including a pool party, a trip to Kings Dominion, and a trip to the Wolftrap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
The third and final phase of the program involves the teenagers going back to Northern Ireland and continuing to build cross-cultural ties. That means more retreats and additional meetings between the teens and their families, and a reunion sometime in October.
Doran said that she is thoroughly enjoying her host family and her partner Greensfield. Her friend described the program as a great new experience. “It’s great to make Irish and American friends, and be away from the troubles of Northern Ireland for a while” said Greensfield.
Similarly, Claire Quinn, hosted by the Joneses with her partner Samantha Wilson, said, “We are beginning to understand each other’s view points. I hope to make friends and bring peace.”
Doran said she is starting to “appreciate what it will take to bring peace to Northern Ireland.”