Unit 6: The Corrymeela Community

PDF file: Lesson ideas

The aim of this Unit is to introduce pupils to the work of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland. This community has long worked to heal social, religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland. It addresses the issues of sectarianism and religious intolerance directly.

In Scotland, there are communities which seek through their faith to work for peace and justice. One such community is the Iona Community.

Purposes of the curriculum 3-18 

In addition to the key contributions of the whole the course, these activities also contribute toward young people becoming:

• successful learners able to make reasoned evaluations
• confident individuals able to develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world
• responsible citizens with respect for others
• effective contributors able to create, develop and solve problems

Corrymeela is a community of people of all ages and Christian traditions. Individually and together they are committed to the healing of social, religious and political divisions that exist in Northern Ireland and throughout the world. The Community has many volunteer workers who believe in building a society which believes in justice and peace, and is free of sectarianism.

The Community was founded in 1965 by a minister call Rev. Ray Davey who wanted to build a community that would work against religious, social and political conflict and bigotry.

What Corrymeela tries to do

• To be a sign and symbol that Protestants and Roman Catholics can share together and live together in a common witness to their God and create a ministry of friendship.
• To provide opportunities for meeting, speaking and learning in communities to get rid of ignorance, prejudice and fear and to promote mutual respect, trust and co-operation.
• To support victims of violence and injustice. To help the healing of personal and social wounds, and to promote new ideas for social and political change.
• To address up-to-date concerns of the Christian community.

How does it do this?

Through school visits

Members of the Corrymeela Community visit schools in Northern Ireland. They may speak at assembly or in the classroom. They openly discuss sectarian issues with the pupils and students. Sometimes these visits can last a full school week.

They train teachers in issues such as:

• citizenship
• community relations
• mutual understanding

Activity 1

Pupils could be asked to consider why it is important for teachers to go through the kind of training that is offered by the Corrymeela Community.

Through Youth Work

Young people in Northern Ireland can sometimes experience little sense of safety or acceptance. Some say this is due to the 'Troubles' that have plagued Northern Ireland since 1969.

The Troubles is the name given to fighting between the Roman Catholic and Protestant paramilitary groups. There is now a ceasefire in Northern Ireland, which means there is less sectarian violence.

Some young people in Northern Ireland have known sectarian violence all their lives. Some have lost family members in the terrorist shootings and bombings.

Corrymeela provides the opportunity for young people to meet, share their experiences and listen to each other. Young people in Northern Ireland sometimes don't get the chance to air their views and opinions.

Activity 2

In small groups, pupils could be asked to consider the kinds of things that young people of Northern Ireland might have in common.

Through the Seed Group

The Seed Group is part of Corrymeela's personal development programme. It offers young people of 18-25 years the opportunity to come together for six weekends over a period of six months.

During these meetings they think about the issues, experiences and influences that have shaped who they are. They often find the same sort of experiences are common to all.

Activity 3

Pupils could be asked why it is important to talk, listen and share experiences with others.

Through close encounters

This a similar programme for 15-17 year olds. Corrymeela's youth team also runs workshops and provides support to other youth workers.

'It has been a totally new experience and Corrymeela gives us a chance to be adults. It has allowed us to develop as people. The fact that this big organisation trusted us challenged us in our own way to grow.' (Seed Group member)

Activity 4

Pupils could be asked to consider what it means to be trusted as an adult.

The Belfast Feelings Box

North Belfast has experienced some of the worst sectarian violence during the Troubles. In some parts of North Belfast 18-feet walls kept the Roman Catholic and Protestant communities. Ironically these walls are called 'peace walls'. Follow this link to read more about the experiences of people who live in Northern Ireland including the 'peace walls'

These walls were a physical symbol of the divisions in the whole of Northern Ireland. They helped to increase suspicion and fear within the two communities.

What the Corrymeela Community decided to do was to start a dialogue using the concept of 'The Feelings Box'. Each person put a single word on a piece of paper representing what it felt like to live in the shadow of the peace wall and put it into a slot in the feelings box. The pieces of paper were taken from the box and read out anonymously. People were free to add something if they wished. What they found was that the comments and statements were the same from both sides of the wall. It was impossible to tell from which side of the wall they came - whether they were Protestant or Catholic feelings.

Both Roman Catholics and Protestants suffered the same sadness, grief, pain and suffering as a result of the Troubles. This was the beginning of a healing process, which it is hoped will lead to mutual understanding and better relations between the two communities.

Activity 5

Pupils could be asked within small groups to consider what sort of questions or comments people might put into the Feelings Box. Provide each group with some 6 inches x 4 inches cards.

Ask each group to imagine they are young people living in Northern Ireland.

What sort of questions or phrases might they wish to put into a Feelings Box?

They could write these on the cards provided.

They could then put the cards into a box that has been prepared.

The teacher or pupils could take it in turns to take the cards out of the box and read them out for discussion or comment.