Hi Everybody! I am a rising sophomore planning to double major in psychology and public policy. For the next eight weeks, I am interning at the Belfast-based non-profit, HereNI. This organization aims to provide lesbian and bisexual women with support and visibility in the greater Northern Ireland community. I will be joining the development director on visits to various group meetings and conducting research on the mental health of LB women in Northern Ireland as well as policies regarding LB women.
Once I entered into my second week of work, my first task was to accompany development director, Orlaith, on a trip to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh to meet with the Fermanagh support group of LB women. Enniskillen, a small town in the southwest corner of Northern Ireland (Belfast is on the eastern shore), was home to a few LB women as part of this group aimed to reduce isolation and improve mental health through peer and HereNI support. For me, the three-hour drive to Enniskillen was fascinating- cows, sheep, and green rolling hills. Once we arrived in the small town, we met with three women for dinner. Easily the most surprising part for me was the breadth of the conversations. The five of us discussed everything from American politics to the Northern Ireland school and police systems to dealing with family members affected by cancer. The three women and Orlaith made me feel incredibly welcomed into Northern Ireland and left me looking forward to our next meeting next month.
On Wednesday, the group headed over to our annual dinner at Ruth and Jim’s house. Ruth is the manager of Farset International, the hostel/hotel we are staying at for the duration of our time in Belfast. She was very hospitable and welcoming though, especially introducing us to her family members and adorable one-year-old grandson. A few of the DukeEngage students also got to hear about the Troubles from her husband Jim, who was a soldier in the British Army, an interesting contrast given the stories we had just heard from the ex-IRA member on our walking tour Sunday.
On Thursday, an especially cold and rainy day, we all headed into taxis to join Robin and Kate Laverty (Bennett and Patricia’s placement supervisor) for a Shared History Group. Each Thursday, a group of older people gather to discuss different issues about the Troubles frankly and free of judgment. They were extremely lively and clearly enjoyed getting together in a space where religion, political association, or the past in general didn't matter We heard from Robin, who discussed the similarities between Durham and Belfast and then from various members of the Shared History Group. The most prevalent idea discussed was how powerful discussion is between two warring factions, something that was obviously at play here.
Haley Hickey
Trinity '17
Once I entered into my second week of work, my first task was to accompany development director, Orlaith, on a trip to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh to meet with the Fermanagh support group of LB women. Enniskillen, a small town in the southwest corner of Northern Ireland (Belfast is on the eastern shore), was home to a few LB women as part of this group aimed to reduce isolation and improve mental health through peer and HereNI support. For me, the three-hour drive to Enniskillen was fascinating- cows, sheep, and green rolling hills. Once we arrived in the small town, we met with three women for dinner. Easily the most surprising part for me was the breadth of the conversations. The five of us discussed everything from American politics to the Northern Ireland school and police systems to dealing with family members affected by cancer. The three women and Orlaith made me feel incredibly welcomed into Northern Ireland and left me looking forward to our next meeting next month.
On Wednesday, the group headed over to our annual dinner at Ruth and Jim’s house. Ruth is the manager of Farset International, the hostel/hotel we are staying at for the duration of our time in Belfast. She was very hospitable and welcoming though, especially introducing us to her family members and adorable one-year-old grandson. A few of the DukeEngage students also got to hear about the Troubles from her husband Jim, who was a soldier in the British Army, an interesting contrast given the stories we had just heard from the ex-IRA member on our walking tour Sunday.
On Thursday, an especially cold and rainy day, we all headed into taxis to join Robin and Kate Laverty (Bennett and Patricia’s placement supervisor) for a Shared History Group. Each Thursday, a group of older people gather to discuss different issues about the Troubles frankly and free of judgment. They were extremely lively and clearly enjoyed getting together in a space where religion, political association, or the past in general didn't matter We heard from Robin, who discussed the similarities between Durham and Belfast and then from various members of the Shared History Group. The most prevalent idea discussed was how powerful discussion is between two warring factions, something that was obviously at play here.
Haley Hickey
Trinity '17