ALMOST 100 Protestant and Catholic young people from Northern Ireland have arrived in Washington to spend six weeks with host families under the Project Children scheme. About 500 more schoolchildren will take part in the scheme in other areas of the US.
Project Children is a non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit organisation which has been bringing hundreds of schoolchildren from areas in Belfast and Derry most affected by the "Troubles" to the US each year. It was founded by Mr Denis Mulcahy, an Irish immigrant and an officer in the New York Police Department bomb squad.
Since it began, more than 13,000 young people from the North have participated in the scheme.
According to the Washington area co-ordinator, Ms Carol Wheeler, it is especially important to bring Protestant and Catholic young people together "at this precarious moment in the peace process".
"In America they are given the opportunity to mix with people from another religious tradition, a chance many do not have in Northern Ireland."
Most of the children are aged between 10 and 12, but this year Project Children is also bringing 28 college-age students of mixed denominations to Washington as part of a new Intern Programme. They will be given tours which include briefings at the White House, the State Department and the US Congress before being placed in various offices.
"We are not only giving them a break from some of the tensions they face, at home, we also hopefully - are playing some part in building a lasting peace, Ms Wheeler said yesterday.