DERRY City and Strabane District Council’s Director of Legacy, Oonagh McGillion (pictured left), has urged thousands of young people from across the North of Ireland to take ownership of the local bid to be European Youth Capital (EYC) for 2019.
She was speaking at the ‘Amazing the Space’ event in the Eikon Exhibition Centre at the Maze / Long Kesh site in Lisburn which drew a crowd of over 3,500 students to celebrate the role of young people in making peace here.
The local Council area has been shortlisted as one of five finalists in the running for the prestigious EYC title and the ‘Amazing the Space’ initiative will play a key role in their bid.
“We are looking forward to working with the young people involved with this incredible project that has touched the hearts and minds of so many people,” she told the assembled audience and thousands more watching online.
They will direct how the ‘Amazing the Space’ project can be embedded into the EYC19 programme.
“The energy and commitment from everyone present was palpable with a real sense of excitement that this energy will become a permanent feature of our work together.”
In June of this year ‘Amazing the Space’ was officially launched by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock, at Ebrington.
Peace pledges written by pupils from local primary and secondary level schools, which tell of their hope for peace were unveiled at the event, which included performances of music, drama and visual arts from local talent.
There was also International contributions, arranged through a range of partners including Generation Global, The Global Peace Foundation and The United Nations.
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