POLICE figures show that the number of sectarian attacks has doubled in the past year. Many of these attacks take place in interface areas throughout Northern Ireland. But a lot of work is being done in these areas to try to steer young people away from violence into a new era of friendship and understanding.
The Whistle Project in the Waterside area of Derry is one such project. It involves young people from the Catholic Top of the Hill area which is on an interface with the Protestant Irish Street area. We asked some of the young people participating in The Whistle Project to tell us what they thought sectarianism was – and what they and others could do top put a stop to it.
Fifteen-year-old Tomas said: “Sectarianism is two different religions who don’t get on for stupid reasons.” Jenny (18) said: “Sectarianism is hatred and prejudice between two religions, especially in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants.” She admitted that she was probably sometimes sectarian without even knowing it. “If you’re walking down the street and see someone wearing a Rangers or Northern Ireland top, you automatically assume it’s Protestants just because of the prejudice that’s brought up in Northern Ireland with Rangers.” All the young people agreed that getting to know young Protestants better would help put an end to sectarianism. Shannon, who is 14, said: “Cross-community programmes can stop sectarianism. Getting to know each other would stop sectarianism.” Tomas agreed: “The Whistle Project stops sectarianism because they do a programme with Catholics and Protestants, it’s a great programme. I can stop sectarianism by keeping in these programmes and encouraging more people to go into them because they’re brilliant.”
Jenny, who volunteers with The Whistle Project, thinks to tackle sectarianism, we need to target even younger children. She said: “I think you need to help younger children and not people our age because we’ve already been brought up with the prejudices, I think that working with younger children and building up relationships and respect for Protestants can stop sectarianism. “The Whistle Project works alongside Irish Street Community and other Protestant areas so we help to build up the relationships between Catholics and Protestants, especially with the young people.”
Eighteen-year-old Michael also volunteers at The Whistle Project. He hopes that sharing his personal experiences will prevent other younger kids in the area getting mixed up in sectarian violence. He said: “At this stage, I don’t think I’m sectarian but at 13, 14 I’d say I was because I wasn’t being taught but hearing things on street corners which I think gets to a lot of young people. But taking part in activities shows that others are no different and the things we’d heard weren’t true. “I volunteer on programmes and activities through the Whistle Project and I’ve found myself coming into contact with young people and I explain to them where I was five years ago and explain I may have had the same feelings, but now I can pass on my experience and let them know they’ll meet great people and there’s nothing to be scared of.”
Speaking to the young people in Top of the Hill, many seem hopeful for the future when once and for all we can blow the whistle on sectarianism.
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By Aine (17) and Amy (17)
