COUNCIL CALLS ON COMMUNITY LEADERS TO JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST ‘PREJUDICE AND INTOLERANCE’

DERRY City and Strabane District Council is calling on community leaders to sign up to their new ‘Challenging Prejudice Leadership Development Programme’ – which includes a study visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau and aims to educate people about the events of the Holocaust and consider the lessons for today.

The Challenging Prejudice Leadership Development Programme is part of Council’s proactive approach to improving good relations.

The programme will provide opportunities for community representatives,

Council staff and the wider community to promote the city, towns and villages as safe and welcoming places for all people.

It aims to develop positive relationships between people of different community backgrounds, and to enhance skills to help participants contribute to improving the attitudes of people within their local areas.

Through a series of interactive workshops, community leaders will explore the Holocaust, how it happened, why it happened and how the lessons learned from it can be used to address key issues in today’s society – including sectarianism, racism and the refugee crisis.

It is hoped that the programme will equip community leaders with the tools to challenge prejudice, bigotry and intolerance in their own communities and in doing so become champions of Local Community Planning.

This programme will also provide an excellent opportunity to critically evaluate one of the most horrific events of the 20^th century and to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.

The Challenging Prejudice Leadership Development Programme will consist of 10 days:

Monday 6^th, 13^th and 20^th November

Wednesday 22^nd November

Overseas study visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Sunday 26^th to 30^th November

Thursday 30^th November

Closure Thursday 14^th December

Participants are required to take part in the entire Challenging Prejudice Leadership Development Programme and have a valid passport for travel in order to be considered.

There are currently 20 places available.

If you would like to express an interest in participating on the programme, contact Good Relations Officer Anglela Askin on 02871 253253 Ext 8220 or [email protected]

Closing date for receipt of applications is 3pm on Tuesday 31^st October.