From Prison to Peace Partnership shares message with pupils

Political ex-prisoners from both sides of the local divide have met with pupils from Strangford Integrated College.

Teachers at the college have been delivering the From Prison to Peace Resource for Local and Global Citizenship at Key Stage 4, developed by the From Prison to Peace Partnership, with help from Queen’s University’s Education Department.

The political ex-prisoners who took part in the panel discussion are from some of the groups which make up the From Prison to Peace Partnership, which is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

As part of the delivery of this educational pack, participating schools across Northern Ireland, from all sectors, are offered an audience with a panel of political ex-prisoners to help bring to life the contents of the pack, making it more relevant for young people.

This is the second year in a row the college has delivered the pack to its students.

It is an interactive educational tool delivered in a classroom setting, with cut-out content contained in the pack and a specially produced accompanying DVD which helps stimulate student discussion.

The panel of ex-prisoners attending Strangford Integrated College included Danny Murphy, (former IRA prisoner, Coiste Na Iarchimi), David Stitt, (former UDA prisoner, Charter for Northern Ireland), Gerard Foster, (former INLA prisoner, Teach Na Failte) and Martin McKevitt, (former Official IRA prisoner, An Eochair).

Also in attendance was Lesley Emerson, from the Education Department at Queen’s University, who helped develop the resource.

The DVD features political ex-prisoners sharing their experiences of how they became involved in conflict and what it is like to be in prison.

The pack aims to demystify both these experiences.

To find out more about the From Prison to Peace Resource for Local and Global Citizenship at Key Stage 4, e-mail Margaret McTeggart.

Click here to download a copy of the From Prison to Peace Education pack. 

Press coverage:  This visit to Strangford Integrated College attracted strong interest from the local media, with a full page feature in the education section of today's Belfast Telegraph (Wednesday, January 11).  Next Thursday (Jan. 19), Hearts and Minds on BBC Northern Ireland will feature the event, as will BBC Radio 4's World at One programme on Friday, January 13.