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Youth Action representative Gail Neill and Susan McEwen, an interface worker with The Corrymeela Community, also attended, along with Sixth Form students, parents and friends of the school.

 

During the debate evening, which was staged in early March, participants spent time exploring how young people living in Northern Ireland today are affected  by the experiences of older generations and the ongoing divisions in society.

 

After the panel of speakers had each shared some of their own insights into the issue, the event moved to roundtable conversations considering the question: “In light of the needs of young people that we´ve been talking about so far, what could ‘we’ do that could make a difference?”

Lively discussion followed and a lot of interesting ideas on how to tackle divisions in society quickly began to emerge. Suggestions included using skills development and inter-generational story telling to encourage young people to deal with difference in a positive way.

 

The group also spent time talking about how best to share the experience of integrated education with others.

In response, Lagan has already begun developing some of the excellent ideas generated during the evening. At present, the school is looking at how it can prepare students and staff to share their space and experiences when pupils from other schools and colleges visit to work on collaborative projects.

Lagan hopes the evening will act as a meaningful beginning to a larger conversation which will continue in the school community.