Our mission is to help young, Christian-based leaders from Northern Ireland and the United States to become peacemakers by providing a safe environment to learn, by practicing the skills needed to unite people when differences divide them. Under the sponsorship of the Ulster Project, 16 Teenagers and from Belfast, Northern Ireland, half Protestants and half Catholic, half girls and half boys, come
to Arlington for the month of July to live with host families in private homes. They live with Host Families, becoming an extra son or daughter, who are on the same side of the Catholic/Protestant “Faith line” and are “matched” by a Committee, selected by the participating American churches. Accompanied by two adult Counselors, the Northern Irish participants range in age from 14-16 years, having been evaluated and selected for the project by their teachers and clergy for their leadership potential. Both American and Northern Irish teens must go through an application process and home interviews to ensure the willingness of the family to participate and to prepare them for the busy schedule that will be followed during the month of July. It is hoped that at this age, the young people have not committed themselves to any underground militant group and are old enough to profit from this experience. Once selected for the project, the Northern Irish teens meet extensively to form strong bonds with each other before leaving the country. During the July month of the Project, the entire group of Northern Irish and American teens meet almost daily for activities, which include encounter sessions (Times Of Discovery), social activities, community service projects, and worship experiences, learning to play, pray, and work together. Because the Project works so well, developing mutual trust and friendship among the Northern Irish youth and their families, participating Northern Irish leaders plan reunions and meetings after the youth return to Northern Ireland, encouraging and allowing the continuing friendships formed during the Project.
