Inspiring Pupil Voice: PEACEPLUS ASPIRE students meet with President Connolly in Derry

Students from Deele College and the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School recently met President Catherine Connolly during her visit to Derry. The students shared their experiences of being involved in the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme, highlighting how the project has boosted their confidence, helped them build meaningful connections and supported them in becoming more active members of their community in Raphoe. Read on to hear directly from the students as they reflect on this experience and the honour of meeting her!

Both schools have worked in partnership for many years, with a shared focus on peace and reconciliation, relationship‑building, and strengthening community links. This partnership fosters meaningful connections that extend beyond the school gates, and their musical performances bring parents and community members together in celebration. This long‑term impact serves as a blueprint for shared education and highlights the transformative effect of the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme on all those involved.

Our Communications Officer spoke with the students about the meaning of peace and what an opportunity like meeting President Connolly represented for them. Below are some reflections shared by the students:

 She wanted our honest opinions, and she wanted to get our perspective, and she made it clear that she was there to listen and not to speak. I would hope activities like this continue, even in other year groups other than TY, that you still get to have these cross-border collaborations and activities with two schools in all communities.”

 We had three people from the royal and we talked mostly about the musical and the new friendships we made with the other students. It was really nice to see how genuinely interested the president was in what we had to say.

 My understanding of peace is for people to be able to come together and collaborate regardless of what might have once been a boundary between people like different ethnicities, or religions, or general backgrounds that can stop coming between them and they can work together constructively.

 My understanding of peace is for people to be able to come together and collaborate regardless of what might have once been a boundary between people like different ethnicities, or religions, or general backgrounds that can stop coming between them and they can work together constructively.

 This experience should be spread-out over-all years and outside of school where everyone should have their voice heard. It’s very important to get everyone’s side of everything and instead of just single views of certain people, I think everyone’s voice should be heard.

  This was a life changing TY – I don’t think I would be the same person if I didn’t do TY. It was definitely eye opening - the social skills you get from it, the confidence you get and the new relationships and the friendships you can make. 

 I would define peace as freedom for all, regardless of your background, ethnicity, race or wherever you come from, you can come together and just connect with other people freely with no restrictions and you don’t have to fear. I was honoured to meet President Connolly - It was really nice to see that your voice was heard. I hope more things like this can happen. 

Their involvement in PEACEPLUS ASPIRE has enabled them to develop new skills, grow in confidence, and become active citizens within their own community, where their voices are heard. Together, these two schools are helping shape a new generation in Raphoe - one whose connections reflect not the divisions of history, but the collaborative spirit of the village they share.

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE (Advancing Shared Partnerships through Inclusive Relationships in Education) is a collaboration between Léargas, the Education Authority (lead partner), Early Years- the organisation for young children, National Childhood Network (NCN) and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It aims to provide direct and sustained contact between children and young people from all backgrounds.

To learn more about PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, check out our website here.