Debrief

It wasn’t quite the Oscars but I hope the winners at the IEF’s annual Carson Awards ceremony felt proud of their work – and that we made them feel special when they travelled to Belfast to collect their trophies and certificates. 

Frank Carson, who founded the awards, couldn’t join us but still managed to make everyone laugh – via video.

There was high praise from his son, businessman Tony Carson, speaking for the family who sponsors the occasion. He commented that the art, films and drama produced for the competition should be like a beacon shining beyond integrated schools.  (more…)

by Erin Wilkinson

I am lucky enough to have experienced a strongly Protestant primary school and both an integrated primary school and post-primary. Through my first primary school we took part in the EMU project which linked classes from a Protestant school and Catholic school in the same area.

I can remember quite vividly that at one point a group of Catholics were surrounded in the play ground and hit with stones and food. Being young I didn’t know why my peers were doing this. During the EMU project we would meet our partnered school and go on various trips; whilst being under the watch of teachers we mixed together but when it came to the bus the two schools would separate to the back and front. (more…)