Northern Ireland

Colourful programme of events to take place as part of Good Relations Week

Lisburn based singer-songwriter Rwanda Shaw yesterday helped kick off Good Relations Week with Peter Day, director of Engagement at the Community Relations Council
Lisburn based singer-songwriter Rwanda Shaw yesterday helped kick off Good Relations Week with Peter Day, director of Engagement at the Community Relations Council

A COLOURFUL programme of events from a diverse range of organisations will take place around Northern Ireland in the coming days as part of Good Relations Week.

Under the theme, `Change Starts with Us', the week will be marked through a programme of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, feature talks, podcasts, storytelling and exhibitions.

The events will address everything from sectarianism and racism to shared spaces, peace-building and cultural diversity.

They will also tackle issues including gender inequality, climate change and the environment, improving individual health and well-being, eradicating poverty and hunger, as well as removing barriers to improved education.

The programme includes the NI Environment Link delivering a workshop on how the local environment sector can encourage a higher level of engagement and participation of people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and the North West Migrants Forum hosting its 2022 Advancing Race Equality Awards.

Belfast City Council will also host a ‘Making peace with people, planet and place’ event, while the Living Library will see participants `borrow a person' and have a 20-minute one-to-one conversation.

Good Relations Week kicked off yesterday with the launch of inspirational music track `Change Starts with Us' by Lisburn musician Rwanda Shaw.

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter, who appeared on X-Factor in 2017, gave a live performance of the track at the Community Relations Council.

Martin McDonald, chair of the Community Relations Council, said the programme of events is "showcasing the creativity and enthusiasm of local groups and organisations in their efforts to achieving a better and more sustainable future for us all".

"It will explore how these groups and organisation have made concerted efforts to bring communities together, regardless of background, culture, or heritage," he said.

"It will shine a light on their efforts to tackle important issues such sectarianism, racism, and other forms of identity hatred and inequality, as well as addressing climate change, eradicating food poverty, and improving people’s mental health."

Further information is available at www.goodrelationsweek.com