News & Events
Deputy Mayor Welcomes 'Project Children' Representatives28 July 2010
The Deputy Mayor of Lisburn, Councillor Brain Heading recently welcomed American and local representatives of 'Project Children' to Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.
Project Children is an American-Northern Ireland partnership dedicated to cross-community work with children aged between 10 and 14 years of age. It places more than 200 children from Northern Ireland with host families across America each summer.
Councillor Heading, speaking about the programme, said: "It was an honour to welcome Pat Kelly III, Texan Co-ordinator for Project Children, and his wife Gwen to Lisburn. The vision of Project Children is to help build peace in Northern Ireland through its children and young people.
"I visited America in 2003 to view the programme in action for myself. While in New York I was able to experience firsthand how children from across the community received a much needed break from the politics of home and enjoyed the opportunity to live and play together," he concluded.
The local children who take part in the programme spend six weeks with their American host family. During this time they become 'part of the family' participating in family activities, doing household chores and perhaps even going on holiday with the family.
Lillian Balance who works on the programme within the Lisburn area provided a local perspective on the work of this initiative.
The Mayor of Lisburn, Alderman Paul Porter also presented a Lisburn Coat of Arms plaque to Pat Kelly III during his visit to Lagan Valley Island.
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