Friends Forever A peaceful option, Friends Forever, seeks to relocate children from violent regions on the earth, place them in a nurturing environment, building trust and friendships that are hoped to last a lifetime. (Photo Diane Randlett)

Our minds are not open enough to imagine that peace really starts with one relationship at a time, yet children from Ireland as well as Israel and Arab Muslim students are realizing this through the Friends Forever program.

Robert Raiche, then a YMCA Director and Rotarian, decided to join these two organizations in an effort to bring children from feuding Northern Ireland, to a peaceful U.S. setting. Friends Forever was the name given to this program in 1986, which still strives today; bringing 40 children each year to the United States, to date over a 1,000 children. Here, children are encouraged to find and celebrate what they share in common.

Jim Lynn from the Ballymena YMCA and coordinator for the children in Ireland took his group of 10 to Danvers, Massachusetts this year. There are in total four groups of students from four different towns in Ireland taking advantage of this two-week long opportunity; Belfast, Carrick Fergus, North Down and Ballymena.

One group of children from Carrick Fergus and their leaders went to Camp Kieve in Nobleboro. The group visited the Boothbay region on Thursday, October 25. The youngsters checked out the Y's teen center and attended a football game at BRHS. In the evening, the children spoke at the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club which helped to sponsor their trip.

"Ten children, five boys and five girls, five Protestants and five Catholics," Brian Moore, one of 3 chaperones, said. He added, "It's a good group." When asked about the political climate currently in Ireland, he said, "We have a new government now in Ireland; the First Minister is the Rev. Ian Paisley, and the Deputy First Minister is Martin McGinnis of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association). Rugby and soccer, which are predominantly Catholic, are sports that have a history of only allowing certain people to play. Small numbers of Protestants play the sport, however there is still some conflict," he said. Student Manus added, "A Celtic poster was hanging out my bag and I got punched in the face."

"The children were to stay at Camp Kieve (which donated its facility and personnel) until Friday morning and then head to Portsmouth, N.H. The idea to move is that we are hosted by different people and we will stay at a more industrial area as well as the coast; it is a joint support of the program for us. It costs ₤180 (pounds) for each child, 360 U.S. dollars, for the flight and insurance. The children pay a small fee to the Portsmouth- based organization Friends Forever," said Brian.

Peter, who has visited the U.S. three times, said, "It's a really good experience. It's harder than I thought, with everybody together all of the time."

"It's pure awesome," said Daniel, whose favorite candy is Hershey's chocolate.

Michael said, "It's is a great opportunity, great seeing different perspectives without being judged, beautiful cheerleaders, too. It's such good Craic, (Gaelic for fun). I love swimming and kayaking at Camp Kieve."

"You can just walk up to people and start talking," said Manus.

Rachel said of the violence in Northern Ireland, "It's historic and hasn't died out yet."

Michael added, "They're not mature enough to give in to each other. The trouble started in the 1960s, the IRA (Irish Republican Army) planned a plot against the English government, and it ended in 1997 on Good Friday. POW Michael Stone was released. The IRA held onto their weapons, purchased from Germany, Libya and United States gun runners. All weapons were disbanded in 2004-05. Since then there has been so much progress. However, the day we left Carrick Fergus, there were 90 death threats by the Para military."

Paramilitary is known as the UDA, Ulster Defense Association, or the UVF Ulster Volunteer Force (the Catholic IRA organization no longer exists).

The Friends Forever organization is a perfect solution where there seems to be no hope. Northern Ireland's children, at least a thousand of them, will attest to that. Now with Friends Forever's additional fledgling program for Jewish and Muslim children currently in its third year, perhaps children will help us to achieve peace throughout the world.