Good Relations Week 2024

OpportUNITY - creating a brighter future for all

This week I have had the privilege of attending two events celebrating Good Relations Week. Perhaps this year of all years it is more poignant as we create a moment for us all to UNITE and be architects of change in helping build a region where every voice matters.

As a social and community farm it was good to attend the ARK event at Queens University showcasing the potential of social and community farming to cultivate good relations in Northern Ireland (NI) across racial and sectarian divides. It was an opportunity to hear practical examples of delivery and research on the potential of what could be attained if stakeholders were able to see the social and economic benefits of integrating communities through social and community farming. An area we have seen at firsthand at Glenside Farm

Dr Matt Williams challenged us with this equation: Home = People and Places. So where are the places where people can gather, feel safe and flourish. Social and community farming gives such a place where working together on land, with people, creates home.

As I walked into a room to celebrate Good Relations Week with Afghan women and children from across Northern Ireland, a sense of home was definitely evident. Food, crafts, music (both Irish and Afghanistan), dance (both Irish and Afghanistan) and a noisy drumming session ending with an African song, was an eclectic mixture of what can be achieved with heart, team and safe welcoming spaces of hospitality. This is when the reality of research hit the ground and the beautiful noise of women talking, learning together and being together was what this week emulated - OpportUNITY - creating a brighter future for all.