Among the best events which go to the very core of what the Belfast Media Group (aka Andytown News Group) is about, is the annual Aisling Bursary Awards.
The Awards present bursaries of £1000 each to third-level students taking on all types of studies and coming from all sorts of backgrounds. Since the awards started in 2001, as a joint initiative between ourselves and the pioneering West Belfast Partnership Board, they've provided over £300,000 in scholarships (though I'm a bit embarrassed by the fact that the amount hasn't gone up in the intervening eight years).
This year, it'll be tougher than ever to raise contributions from the business community (companies put up £1000 each) but Tina McCann at the West Belfast Partnership Board has started things off by sending each of last year's sponsors an update on their 'scholar'. She sends me this note from Lauren McIlwee, a young lady who had a child in her teens but still managed to achieve 10 GCSEs and 4 A Levels. Good for her. She's now studying for a teaching qualification.
Hi Tina,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the Belfast Media Group for the bursary. It came in really useful when starting university. I used the money to buy a laptop for my university work. The laptop is very helpful as I can take it to university where I can study in the quiet of the library. This is important to me as I find it difficult studying in the house whilst trying to look after my son.
So far at university I have sat exams which took place at Christmas time. I sat three exams and passed them all. I have another exam to sit which will take place at the end of May.
Although my course is hard work, I am really enjoying it and hope to graduate in two years.
Once again thank you for all your help
Lauren McIlwee
(Lauren is pictured receiving her bursary from Basil McLaughlin, founder of the Andersonstown News back in 1972.)
Which brings me to Garvan O'Doherty's address last week a Community Relations Council gathering in Belfast. Taking as his theme, "Men and women are born to put more into their country than they take out of it" (Guy Emerson, 1920), he said:
"In peacebuilding, the priority is often to search for a political solution, then a security solution and then build institutions. Frequently, economics are left to the end. But economics, politics and security are interlinked. Economics make peace possible and act as a powerful force for moderation....Economic dimension is essential in conflict resolution, only with the prospect of ongoing prosperity can a political solution become longlasting peace."
He adds: "Actions to support the economy must come at the beginning of the process, alongside politics, security and istitution building. Post-conflict recovery is about creating a new political economy dispensation. It is about building back differently and better."
1 comments:
the DUP's surely well ahead of the pack on "building back differently and better" did you see work has just started on the new BMC college in the "non sinkable ship" quarter in East Belfast. Add that to the new Public Records Office etc,etc.in the same area and you have some investment.To paraphrase that old Irish American "cumallye" much loved by yourself mairtin "if we only had old ROBBO over here".Maybe he could teach Gerry a few tricks on how to work the system.on the other hand it may be difficult to catch up with him as he solves conflicts the world over.At least old Nero only fiddled while Rome burned he didn't traverse the empire.
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