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Murals and Peace Walls

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As you explore the city of Belfast, you will see an immense amount of artwork and graffiti on most walls.  Most images convey a political message ranging from getting justice for slain family members to promoting peace amongst the Protestant and Catholic communities.  It’s important to note that the murals aren’t always found on the Peace Walls but can be seen on many buildings throughout the city.

Our group had several opportunities to see many of the murals and Peace Walls throughout Belfast and inquire the purpose behind these structures.  The Peace Walls were erected several years ago during the Troubles as a means for creating a barrier between the fighting communities.  Some Peace Walls had to be extended with steel fencing to block projectiles and bombs from being thrown over.  We observed one wall that had two levels of steel as individuals found ways to throw objects higher than the current structure.

The Youth Works organization that our group was working with focuses on peace and reconciliation through their programs at their youth centers.  The leaders of this organization spent a great deal of time educating our students on the Troubles in Northern Ireland; in particular, the city of Belfast.  At the end of our trip, we were invited to a section of Peace Walls where visitors from all over the world come to scribe a message of peace on a section of the Walls.  Below you will see our Penn State students writing their messages to the Belfast community.

Learn more about the Peace Walls here!

Natalie Grubb signing a Peace Wall.
Natalie Grubb signing a Peace Wall.

 

Penn State students writing messages of peace for the Northern Ireland community on one of the many Peace Walls in the country.
Penn State students writing messages of peace for the Northern Ireland community on one of the many Peace Walls in the country.
Cystal Diem writing her message of peace.
Cystal Diem writing her message of peace.

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Students learning the history of various murals near St. Peter's Immaculata Youth Centre.
Students learning the history of various murals near St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre.

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Penn State Berks students getting a tour of murals in Belfast, Ireland.
Penn State Berks students getting a tour of murals in Belfast, Ireland.

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Politics

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A central theme of this trip is learning the political realities in Northern Ireland.  The politics in Ireland are complex and a specific point of interest for the Alternative Spring Break program.  As we are learning the system here, our students and staff were pleasantly surprised to see how interested and knowledgeable the Irish are regarding American politics.   Our students engaged in a deep discussion of the Presidential debates, candidates, and the upcoming United States 2016 election.

Students discussing American politics with Steven Hughes (Youth Works).
Students discussing American politics with Steven Hughes (Youth Works).
Martin Kelly of Youth Works, discussing his viewpoints of American politics with our PS students.
Martin Kelly of Youth Works, discussing his viewpoints of American politics with our PS students.

Working with the Homeless

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On March 9, 2016, our group worked at Holy Family Youth Center to construct sandwiches to be handed out to the homeless community.

4 Penn State students and 1  staff member accompanied Youth Works into the City Center to provide toiletries, sleeping bags, and food to the local homeless in Belfast, Ireland.

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The group created an assembly line to quickly complete as many sandwiches as they could between class sessions.

Students cheerfully crowd around a table to make sandwiches for the homeless.

Students cheerfully crowd around a table to make sandwiches for the homeless.

The beginning of the assembly line.
The beginning of the assembly line.
Students work at Holy Family Youth Center to pack lunches for the homeless community in Belfast, Ireland.
Students work at Holy Family Youth Center to pack lunches for the homeless community in Belfast, Ireland.

This is my classroom–what’s yours?

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Penn State students from the Parks and People program in South Africa, connected with the students in Belfast, Ireland on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.  Both groups of students were given an article that provided a new perspective of global citizenship which generated deep and meaningful conversation.  The two groups discussed commonalities and interconnectedness of both countries, as well as their personal reflections of how power and privilege impact studying abroad.

Penn State students on the South African Parks and People program skyping with the Penn State Berks group on March 9, 2016.
Penn State students on the South African Parks and People program skyping with the Penn State Berks group on March 9, 2016.
Penn State Berks' view of the classroom session on March 9, 2016.
Penn State Berks’ view of the classroom session on March 9, 2016.
Betsy Scarpaci facilitation a group discussion regarding Global Citizenship with both groups.
Betsy Scarpaci facilitation a group discussion regarding Global Citizenship with both groups.
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Alternative Spring Break students asking the Parks and People students questions about their work in South Africa.

Why WE ARE Here

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3/6/2016
By:  Brittney Schlechter

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After a long night/day of travel, we have finally made our way to Belfast, Northern Ireland where we will be working with an organization called Youth Works all week. As part of our service, our 10 outstanding Penn State Berks students have been asked to come up with a variety of programs that highlight American culture for the youth during our visit. The programs they have developed range from sports to traditional American cuisine to games and activities. The students are expected to deliver a new program each night they spend at the youth center in order to provide an educational component to our visit in Ireland. Northern Ireland is still feeling the impact of a decades long conflict between the Catholic Republicans and the Protestant Loyalists. Due to this conflict, peace walls were erected to separate the two communities and keep them from becoming violent with one another. While this happened in the mid – nineties, residual effects of the conflict still exist. Many disadvantaged youth feel as though no one is invested in their lives or futures and, since the cease fire in 1994, Northern Ireland has seen a huge spike in attempted and completed suicides amongst Northern Irish youth. Our students hope to utilize this opportunity to show the Belfast youth that they care and that they want them to be happy, grow and prosper. In addition to their cultural programs, our students will be discussing consequences of one’s actions and taking responsibility for ones self with the youth in the hopes that those students on the fence will make more of an effort to make better decisions in the future.

After our service in the youth centers, our students will then be ‘boots on the ground’ in North Belfast, handing our blankets, sleeping bags and other food and supplies to the homeless spending their time on the streets.

I could not be more proud of these students and the efforts they have put forth to make this program a success! These students are hungry to make a difference with all of them citing excitement and motivation as their primary feelings towards this trip. They have spent countless hours on fundraising, class work and program preparation and I am exited to see all of their hard work pay off for them!

In addition to all of their service, Betsy Scarpaci has spent an enormous amount of time setting up this website and other social media platforms so that we can create global conversations around our service here in Ireland. We are hoping to connect with Parks and People, a group working with Penn STATE students in South Africa and have live conversations surrounding what it means to be a global citizen with other Penn State students studying across the globe. Betsy ‘ s efforts to make this experience one that is multi-faceted has been appreciated beyond words and I am honored to be working with her on this initiative.

Our students are expected to engage in daily reflection exercises during their trip which they will expand upon later this month for a final project they are expected to complete for the Alternative Spring Break course.

In all, a lot is being expected of our students in addition to jam-packed days of cultural education and service. However, they are excited and eager to learn and grow as individuals. I am very much looking forward to see the difference they make in those we serve as well as they difference they will ultimately make in themselves.