Brighter Days Ahead

The evenings may be drawing in, but rest assured there will be ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ and that’s the theme of this year’s Good Relations Week which starts today and runs until Sunday.

Groups across Tyrone will celebrate the peace building and cultural diversity efforts of young people and the challenges they face with a creative programme of cross-community and multicultural events as part of Good Relations Week 2021 (GRW2021).

The week-long celebration will feature a mix of arts, history, music, sport and culture-based events from a diverse range of organisations.

Co-ordinated by the Community Relations Council, this year’s colourful programme will include the return of face-to-face events, alongside an expanded online offering of virtual events and digital content. This will include workshops, lectures, panel discussions, feature talks, podcasts, film, music and dance performances, storytelling and exhibitions.

As mentioned earlier, the theme for GRW2021 is ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ which celebrates the efforts of young people in their everyday lives to break down barriers, unite communities and act as a catalyst for peace building and cultural diversity in our society.

It will explore how society can better meet the needs of young people and explore the issues affecting their culturally diverse lives today, including sectarianism and racism, dealing with the continuing impact of the past, mental health, isolation, education, faith, the pandemic, and the environment.

Speaking at the local launch event in Mid Ulster, chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Cllr Paul McLean, said, “I can think of a no better theme for Good Relations Week this year than ‘brighter days ahead’ and no better way to demonstrate the positive impact of young people working together to create a shared future than the Mid Ulster Youth Voice.

“Collectively they are highlighting the issues which are important to them now and in the future and it has never been more important to be engaging meaningfully with our young people than now, when they have faced – and continue to face – some considerable and unique challenges as a result of the pandemic. I’m delighted to see the group take a leading role during this week in showcasing the peace-building and cultural diversity efforts of our young people”.

Martin McDonald MBE, who is chair of the Community Relations Council, said this week will shine a light on ground-breaking projects and initiatives that tackle sectarianism and racism and promote cultural diversity. He said, “We are delighted that over 100 different event and content organisers have embraced our ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ theme and helped to shape a truly remarkable Good Relations Week 2021 that demonstrates imagination, enthusiasm, and commitment to building a united community in our everyday lives.”

Chief executive of the Community Relations Council Jacqueline Irwin added, “Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed to this year’s dynamic programme of events. There is so much to attend, watch and experience, don’t miss it. I would encourage everyone to plan their week of events by checking out the programme at www.goodrelationsweek.com.”

• For more information on the GRW2021 programme of events visit www.goodrelationsweek.com or keep up to date on Facebook
and Twitter using the
hashtag #GRW2021.