'Community Relations and Cultural Awareness' week in Fermanagh and Omagh

by Gráinne Connolly

'Safe Space, Shared Place' is the theme for this years community relations and cultural awareness week. 

This week aims to challenge sectarianism and racism, as well as promoting understanding and respect among all sections of our community. 

By taking all these initiatives into account, it can provide a platform for groups across a variety of sectors to demonstrate examples of how to build a united and shared space. 

To celebrate, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) will be providing a range of free public as part of the Northern Ireland-wide Community Relations and Cultural Awareness Week. 

(Pictured at the launch of Community Relations and Cultural Awareness week: Robert Gibson, Director of Community, Health and leisure, Councillor Stephen McCann, Chairman, Tommy McLaughlin, Good Relations Team Leader, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council)

This week is coordinated by the Community Relations Council and will showcase activities that take place year-round to build united communities in Northern Ireland.

Jacqueline Irwin, Chief Excutive of the Community Relations Council, said: 

"We have chosen the theme 'Safe Space, Shared Place'to allow us to show how many safe and shared spaces we have here. 

"Not just physical spaces, but space in how we think about each other.

"We want to draw attention to the work that is going on all the time to broaden and deepen our sense of safety and to create even more spaces that are shared by all of us. 

"This week is an opportunity to showcase the ways in which people are making room for each other and getting involved in helping people feel safe to share everything that can make life good here." 

Some events have already taken place in the district such as: 

• People and Politics: Engaging with Politicians for the Common Good 
   
• 'On the Front and Here at Home 1917-1918' (a conference examining key historical events of 1917, both on battlefield and in Ireland

The following events will be taking place the rest of this week:

• 'Civil Soceity Engaging with Politics' conference, Thursday 21 September, Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen. 10.00am-4.00pm (in association with the Irish School of Ecumenics). 
  
  The conference will explore the ideas of common good, equality and democracy as key to the flourishing and wellbeing of all the people of Northern Ireland.
   
• Billingual tour of Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum Enniskillen, Saturday 23 September, 11.00am-12.00pm. 
  
  A unique opportunity to explore the Railway heritage of Fermanagh and further afield and is suitable for all ages and levels of Irish.
   
• 'Working together to promote greater understanding', Wednesday 27 September, Tir Navar, Derrygonnelly, 7.30pm-9.30pm (in partnership with West Churches Forum, Derrygonnelly) 
  
  This will feature a talk by guest speaker, Alan McBride, Centre Co-ordinator of the WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast and lead Human Rights Commissioner concerning transitional justice.