REACH Across - cross community relations beyond our own front door
‘Reach for the stars.’ This quote I think best describes REACH Across. It gave me opportunities that I never thought I could get. REACH Across lets young people dream and then help them reach their dreams! No one asks you ‘What school do you go to?’. That doesn’t matter.
One of the crucial aspects of REACH Across is it provides a hub for cross-community relations. It gives us a space to meet people we otherwise would not have the chance to know. Most of us go to single-religion schools and do not have the opportunity to mix with people from another community!
REACH Across expands cross-community relations beyond Northern Ireland as well. I had the chance to take part in an international project with Cyprus, something I would have dreamed of taking part in as a child. At Hallowe’en 2019, the most eventful time of the year in Derry 10 other members and I showcased Derry in all its glory! I made such close bonds with the Cypriots, even to this day we still talk and message online. They even messaged us ‘Happy new year!’. They were two hours early, but they tried! It was amazing to meet and relate and have fun with people from a different country, especially as we represented our town from all communities. It was an incredible experience.
REACH Across focuses on the positivity of culture. One of my all-time favourite moments during the Cyprus project was ‘the culture night’; to be able to experience a different country’s music, food, dance and just to learn of different culture. They made it so inclusive, and we danced and sang along with many laughs. I was able to show off my culture too and I was proud of that. To allow others to have an insight of our little town was an awakening experience, especially as a cross-community group.
Due to COVID-19 our overseas trip to complete the exchange was cancelled. Along with almost all REACH Across activities. Our weekly Thursday night club to touch base, talk, laugh and just see everyone, was cancelled. We could no longer see our friends from different communities and communication became harder.
I understand the pressure and stresses we are all going through, but right now everyone thinks we teens are the main cause of increase in COVID in our city. I don’t think people understand that we struggle too. That Thursday night club kept me sane! For years we were told that we are the bubble wrapped generation. I think we deserve credit for adapting to online learning and jumping the constant hurdles put in front of us.
REACH Across has been amazing through the whole thing! Coming up with amazing ideas to keep us all mental and physically well. The leaders at REACH Across are nothing less than inspirational and I strive to be like them. I would have been bored out of my mind without a challenging quiz on the group chat. Or fed up without my walking team forcing me to get up and move for an hour. Or completely tired, annoyed, uninterested, and bored to tears without an exciting and thrilling zoom call that always lifted my spirits. REACH Across are still bringing young people together and providing an essential wellbeing service for us during this global pandemic. It reminds us that teenagers from all communities are facing the same pressures and we can all get through them together.