Reaching out and bringing positive change to our society

Education, training and development is key to a just, democratic and non-sectarian society in Northern Ireland, Paul Donnelly of the Ulster People's College tells Jane Bell

Paul Donnelly: 'The most consistently rewarding aspect is the enjoyment people display from learning'

Who does the Ulster People's College serve and what range of education and training is available?

The Ulster People's College (UPC) is a specialist organisation concentrating on adult education and training for political and community development.

We work with a wide range of people who are active within their community to improve their skills to enable them to take responsibility and effective action to make and lead positive change and development.

The UPC seeks to contribute through education, training and development to a just, democratic and non-sectarian society with improved social and economic conditions and participation for those who have been disadvantaged and excluded.

We offer a wide range of courses including courses in community development and community relations, race and ethnicity, facilitation, equality and human rights, history and women and leadership.

For more information see www.ulsterpeoplescollege.org.uk

You're part of a small team that delivers training for community and political development in community settings across Northern Ireland. What does that involve in practice?

It involves building relationships and trust with local groups in their respective communities. We work with them to identify the needs of their particular group and area and then deliver courses which assist them in building the particular skills they need.

For some unionist communities this might be exploring Irish history so they build their knowledge and confidence about exploring their identity and the views and experiences of their nationalist neighbours.

Does the current climate of political stability here, with the Assembly up and running, make your life easier or are there still running sores within communities?

It means there are new challenges, which we welcome. With many of the groups I work with there is a desire to understand how we came to be in our current situation and to make sense of it. The UPC is undertaking a lot of work around the theme of 'Dealing with the Past' because we know that sores still exist for a range of people and that they want to discuss the past, the present and the future.

Is the focus purely on loyalist and nationalist groups in interface communities or are the growing number of ethnic groups within Northern Ireland also a factor?

We work with everyone across Northern Ireland and have a long history of doing so, particularly in the past when people found it difficult to work or talk with others. We don't limit ourselves to any constituency although, for me, working with interface groups with the support of the Community Relations Council is a key part of my job.

Our increasing work with ethnic minority groups is very important. Recently, the UPC has worked with Chinese and Polish communities in the Donegall Pass and the Markets area.

We currently have students from Poland, Zimbabwe and Germany studying with us and we are exploring work with a range of groups representing our new communities.

You recently delivered a course on the politics of Northern Ireland in the Indian Community Centre that was attended by Indian, Spanish, Swiss, Cambodian and Greek students. Locals have problems getting to grips with the politics of Northern Ireland. How do you go about explaining to foreigners or newcomers without the risk of being dangerously simplistic?

It depends on why they are here and what their existing level of knowledge is. Some people from other countries might know quite a lot about the history of Northern Ireland and wish to go deeper so that avoids simplicity. Essentially you have to find out where they are starting from and tailor the detail accordingly.

I always make a point of reassuring people in these positions that it's good to ask questions, to seek clarification and to stop me if I'm talking at a level that isn't right for them.

What are the most rewarding parts of the job?

Watching individuals or groups move from a position of self-doubt to self-belief as confidence and understanding grows. Often as this happens they want to move on to new areas that they would have avoided before.

Also it is rewarding to watch people gain an understanding of the views and experiences of others whilst realising it doesn't dilute their position. However, the most consistently rewarding aspect is the sheer enjoyment that people display from learning. Many of our learners had negative experiences of education and are shocked then delighted when they realise that UPC courses are delivered to get results but informally and with great student support from the tutors.

And the greatest challenges?

Powerful lobbies talk of our education system being one of the best in the world yet we deal with hundreds of people every year whose experience of our education system has left them with low self-esteem about their ability to learn. We continually have to counteract that and it is frustrating but as I said we witness the development from self-doubt to self-confidence and it feeding back into communities.

You've met some important and high profile people, who impressed you most?

I've met and worked with a number of our MLAs since 1998. I've met Hillary Clinton, Senator George Mitchell, Mo Mowlam, President McAleese and a host of others. As to who impressed me most? That's a tough one. I've always been impressed by Dawn Purves MLA for East Belfast.

At community level there are hundreds of people who do brilliant, often unrecognised work, against the backdrop of ongoing uncertainty about funding for their posts and their groups.

Lots of people are involved in work such as yours all over Northern Ireland. Why is it still worth doing?

Because the job is never finished!