The Ulster Project - What is the Ulster Project?

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The Ulster Project Mission

The Ulster Project is dedicated to promoting a peaceful parity of esteem between Roman Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland by building tolerance, trust, and ongoing positive relationships among potential leaders from these Christian traditions.

The Ulster Project International, and participating city Projects, is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization.

Many people in the United States share a strong Protestant or Catholic heritage. Our mission is to do something actively to help heal the wounds in Northern Ireland. The people there are both weary and isolated. There now seems to be a glimmer of hope, although the cease fires are fragile. We offer one idea which, with time, determination, faith, and God's providence, will work.

There are few times when an individual, a family, or a parish, can be a true agent for peace in a seemingly endless international conflict. In this instance, however, churches and people of this area, acting with good will, can make a difference in helping to convert the limited suspension of welfare to a real peace.

Our Purpose

1. To promote reconciliation between Northern Irish Catholic Catholics and Protestants by fostering tolerance, understanding and friendship among future leaders.

2. To present a program that brings Northern Irish teens of differing Christian faiths together in a strife-free atmosphere that emphasizes acceptance of all people, regardless of creed.

3. To educate and encourage persons, particularly supporters, community members, and American host families to appreciate their roles as peacemakers and mediators and to understand the purposes of Ulster Project.

4. To encourage Northern Irish leaders and clergy involved in the program to continue to foster the spirit of Ulster Project among the Northern Irish participants following each program.

5. To promote a spirit of community and commitment among American Ulster Project participants.

How Ulster Project Works

Under sponsorship of various U.S. city Ulster Projects, teens from their paired Northern Irish communities come to the United States to live in private homes for a month. Half of the teens are Catholic and half Protestant; half girls and half boys.

The teens live with host families who are of the same gender and same side of the Catholic/Protestant “faith line.” The teens are matched by a committee from the participating American churches.

Madison’s paired Northern Irish community is the town of Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. All of the visiting teens come from the Enniskillen area.

Accompanied by adult counselors, the northern Irish participants range in age from 14-15 years. They are evaluated and selected by their teachers and clergy for their leadership potential. At this age, the youth have not committed themselves to any underground militant group and are old enough to benefit from this experience.

During the month, the entire group of Northern Irish and American teens meet almost daily for activities, including encounter sessions, social activities, community service projects and worship.

Because the Ulster Projects works so well developing mutual trust and friendships among the Northern Irish youth and their families, participating Northern Irish leaders plan reunions and meetings after the youth return to Ireland, encouraging the continuation of those friendships formed during the Project month.