It has been nearly two decades since the worst of the troubles and we are trying to move forward, but do Derry’s youth want to integrate?
Segregated communities and divided schools are still very much the norm in the city. As a young person willing to integrate I decided to ask other young people: "Is it not time that people accept other people’s political views and learn to live together?"
I wanted to find out if, like me, if they can’t help but wonder why there are still communities divided by so called “peace” walls 10 years after the last ceasefire agreement. And if they think the government are helping or hindering integration among the young?
From those young people I spoke to I was glad to hear all of them talk passionately about integration but sadly they declined to give a formal interview or give their name. This is telling in itself.
Although they recognise the need to mix they are fearful of the consequences. Despite division all around them and fear of attack, however, all have and continue to be part of groups set up to integrate the communities. They just don't feel they can talk openly about it.
These groups include: R.E.A.C.H., a cross- community organisation and the North Star Basketball team. All thosei spoke to were also students of Oakgrove College, the local integrated school. They are well aware that sectarianism will continue in their day-to-day life through part-time work, their social lives and school but these young people remain determined to integrate. And they are hopeful that more and more young people will, in time, do the same.
Recent research shows that there are 59 integrated schools (primary and secondary) in Northern Ireland, of which only 19 are secondary schools. There are 329,619 pupils in the Northern Ireland schooling system and of that number only an estimated of 19,000 of children are in integrated schools, which is only about 5% of the school population. It is not all to do with the decision of the parent or child as some 82% of parents support integrated education and nearly 75% would choose an integrated school for their children if one was available.
Of this miniscule percentage of school children in integrated education a study by McCully states: “93% felt that integrated education had had a significant positive impact on their lives, mainly in generating a respect for diversity and promoting a feeling of security in plural environments. By supporting this style of education we are by-passing the fear of the “other” community, which for some reason still exists today.”
McCully also found: “Many valued the opportunities they had to express opinions in the integrated classroom or to discuss traumatic events. This must be considered in the context of a society that often excludes the divisive issues of religion and politics from polite conversation. Through this system people have been giving the sanctuary that they need where they can discuss issues that are nearly considered a taboo subject.”
It’s not only in our school systems. Of all the public housing less than 10% of them are integrated. Part of the reason for this divide is the so called “peace” walls. There are 37 of these peace walls built throughout Northern Ireland. They divide one community from the other and some still remain. Barr the learning and acceptance of cultural diversity, how are people supposed to be moving on from the past if they don’t do it together?
You can’t just use the idea of ‘out of sight out of mind’, it is not truly moving on if we don’t do it as one. We need to accept each other’s beliefs and move past what happened in the past. It’s time to move on and it’s up to the generation that is coming to run the country to do this for the future.
We still have a long way to go but at least there are young people out there in the city quietly building bridges instead of walls.
This article was written by Headliners member Niall Kearney.
