BY MICHAEL BRESLIN

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie was in Belleek last week to launch a Community Safety Project undertaken by Belleek and District Community Partnership's 'Pebble in the Pond Project'.

Called, "NeighbourHOODS", it is a DVD educational resource aimed at eradicating the perception of fear for old people living within rural communities.

The Minister praised the work of the local Community Partnerships in their important work towards harmonious communities living together.

She told them: "A community is not just about religious or ethnic backgrounds, and a neighbourhood is not just about bricks and mortar.

"It is only when communities work with each other and engage, it is only when they recognise each other's rights and respect them that we build real and successful neighbourhoods. I sincerely hope that your efforts and experiences will be the catalyst for greater understanding and awareness in many other rural communities and neighbourhoods."

"Teenagers today", she went on, " don't have the same respect as youngsters had in my day! Or do they?"

NEIGHBOURHOODS

NeighbourHoods' is the fruits of an intergenerational project between the students of the local St Mary's High School and members of the Belleek Young at Heart Club. The group worked with talented drama facilitator and filmmaker, Ann Donnelly and examined the widening gap between young people and older people.

"They also examined", said a spokeswoman, " the fear, mistrust and misunderstanding this creates, and how this feeds into the disproportionate level of anxiety rural people feel in becoming a victim of crime.

The project concluded that, by creating opportunities for interaction and learning, it could substantially reduce the fear for older people and help young people to define their roles and responsibilities within their neighbourhoods".

This resulted in the production of a DVD and accompanying Education/Resource Pack to provide other rural areas with a guide and opportunity to undertake intergenerational work in their own communities.

The pack can be used in many ways within a community: to simply provide an opportunity for interaction between young and old, helping to establish and build friendship and understanding; as a diagnostic tool to help highlight issues concerning young and old within their communities; educationally, to promote active citizenship with our young people, or as a basis for strategic planning for programmes or projects for young and old.

Joanne Cunningham, the Project Officer Pebble in the Pond stated: "This has been a fantastic project to be involved in, to witness first hand the benefits this project has had for the young and older people involved is truly heart warming".

She reported that one participant now goes to bed at night no longer all anxious and worried and had changed her judgmental ways.

"Now, she always says hello to the young people she meets in the street instead of crossing the street. For the Neighbourhoods project to have given her the comfort and security of her own home back is priceless".

Joanne added that a large part of the success of the project was the professionalism and dedication of the film maker, Ann Donnelly and pack designer, Sonya Duffy who, she said had worked tirelessly to produce an effective, eye catching and user friendly product.

Neighbourhoods is a Community Safety Project undertaken by Belleek and District Community Partnership's Pebble in the Pond Project and co-funded by the European Union's Peace and Reconciliation Programme 2000-2006 under Measure 2.7 and Fermanagh Community Safety Partnership.

If you are involved in a community, youth or older persons group and would like more information on the Neighbourhoods project and how it might benefit you, contact Joanne on 028 686 59701 or e-mail belleekpartners@freenet.co.uk.

The Social Development Minister, Ms Ritchie also visited the shared social housing development at Carran Crescent, Enniskillen. The Carran Crescent project is a partnership between the Ulidia Housing Association and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

It is the first mixed housing scheme in Northern Ireland resulting from the Government's, 'Shared Future' policy. The vision is for a peaceful, inclusive and fair society. Further similar housing schemes are planned.

After visiting the homes of some of the residents, Margaret Ritchie said: "Over the years Northern Ireland has come to accept as normal, a society where most people live separately and where our children are educated separately. This division and segregation through housing, employment and in schooling has come at a high price for the whole community.

"We need to change this. We need to see more shared housing and shared education. I want to do everything I can to encourage a peaceful, inclusive society".

She described the project in Carran Crescent as a shining example of how differences can be accommodated together, and she said the make-up of the new community in Carran Crescent 'demonstrates the diversity of the new Northern Ireland'.

"I will be actively pursuing more Carran Crescents.", she promised.