Abstract:
The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 paved the way for the Belfast branch of the Workers' Educational Association to implement an extensive anti-sectarian project. The "Interface Project" developed three educational packs which cover political education, Irish history and the sense of Northern Irish identity.
After many years of cross-cultural educational programmes, many organisations, including the WEA, have now started to focus on single-identity education. These programmes take place in either the Catholic or Protestant community and aim at deconstructing myths and creating empathy for the others. This paper will report on preliminary findings in a research project in progress about the "Interface Project".
In the face of the global upsurge of ethnic conflict - Kosovo and Indonesia among many other "hotspots" - it is vital to look at local educational programmes addressing reconcilation among adults. Northern Ireland is experiencing a post-conflict situation after 30 years of interethnic/interreligious fighting. Parameters of successful anti-sectarian education could be applied in other post-violent ethnic conflict areas globally. Single-identity educational programmes may be a more successful attempt to create empathy by using factual knowledge and by safely addressing the others' reality.
After many years of cross-cultural educational programmes, many organisations, including the WEA, have now started to focus on single-identity education. These programmes take place in either the Catholic or Protestant community and aim at deconstructing myths and creating empathy for the others. This paper will report on preliminary findings in a research project in progress about the "Interface Project".
In the face of the global upsurge of ethnic conflict - Kosovo and Indonesia among many other "hotspots" - it is vital to look at local educational programmes addressing reconcilation among adults. Northern Ireland is experiencing a post-conflict situation after 30 years of interethnic/interreligious fighting. Parameters of successful anti-sectarian education could be applied in other post-violent ethnic conflict areas globally. Single-identity educational programmes may be a more successful attempt to create empathy by using factual knowledge and by safely addressing the others' reality.