We’ve finally begun our 10 days in Ireland as part of the Haller Program, and it’s been an amazing experience so far. It’s difficult to describe everything we’ve seen so far, but it’s been completely different from what I initially expected, in surprising ways.
Spending our first two days in Belfast, the nature, the city, and the overall environment have been stunning and extremely enjoyable. We’ve been touring the city with two incredible and inspiring people, Eamon and Connor, from the local youth center. They’ve been very friendly and helpful, teaching us more about local life and giving us opportunities we wouldn’t have as normal tourists.
However, Northern Ireland still carries major reminders of the issues during The Troubles. Connor and Eamon showed us around and shared stories about their upbringing, explaining how both sides still face deep conflicts over issues dating back centuries. One thing that really stuck with me was visiting the largest peace wall in Europe, which separates two communities in Belfast. It represents the lingering division and how violence is still a part of life for some, continuing to segregate neighborhoods.
Even so, Eamon spoke to me about how many young people in Northern Ireland have hope and want change. He mentioned that there are many progressive youths who want to either tear the wall down or repurpose it, which was great to hear and displayed the hope of the North Irish. Experiencing this side of Northern Irish culture has been a challenge as a neutral visitor, but it hasn’t gotten in the way of enjoying the trip. Instead, it serves as a reminder of the conflicts still happening around the world and the importance of fighting for peace and community.
The amount of conflict has been decreasing, which is amazing to see, and that is partly thanks to youth workers like Connor and Eamon. Their willingness to guide and protect young people who are caught in conflict, even putting themselves at risk, was extremely inspiring. After just two days, I already feel connected to the community and have met some local youth who were extremely kind and welcoming.