ULSTER CHILDREN SEND A MESSAGE OF HOPE
Ulster children send a message of hope
By LINDSAY FERGUS
THE children of the world have been foremost in the minds of Northern Ireland's young people this week.
Youngsters from the four corners of the province have spared a few quiet moments to pen words of hope to young people around the globe who are living in difficult times.
This week is Unicef's World Children's Week and Ulster's kids, who are currently enjoying a life of peace after so many years of war have offered tender thoughts and gentle words to those living in the midst of conflict.
Even children in Omagh, who have suffered so much in recent weeks after a Real IRA bomb claimed the lives of 29 people, many of them young, have taken time to remember the plight of other young persons.
These innocents, as young as eight, all speak of knowing despair, bombs, slaughter, suffering and bad days but their letters also offer hope and a ray of light in the darkness.
On this page we reproduce letters from just a few Northern Ireland children whose simple words, which are often never really heard, talk of peace, love, support, help, unity and harmony.
CATHERINE MCALEAVEY
I HOPE that Northern Ireland's peace process will work and will help the rest of the world to have peace.
I hope that children's bad days are few and happy days are many. For children who are lucky enough to be well cared for. that they remember the children with very hard lives and try to do things to help.
I hope for people to remember the children and have safe places to play and that very young children should not have to work.
My hope for all children is that they can play and learn, be loved and cared for and have food in homes that are warm and dry and clean. Catherine McAleavey 22 Ormonde Park, Finaghy, Belfast
CATHY GRACE CUNNINGHAM
I HAVE watched many suffering throughout the world during my eleven short years of life. We are so much better off than other countries. We have no shortage of food, we have no shortage of water and money others do! But. I believe that we can change that! You don't have to go out there and plant crops for a family. Certainly this will feed them when the crop ripens. But! It won't feed future generations. If you support charities such as this, they could send people out to those countries to show people how to grow crops and supply them with eg: corn to make bread to feed future generations for a life time!
I believe I can make a difference! I believe you can make a difference.
Children need your help for today and tomorrow forever.
Cathy Grace Cunningham 106 Mill Road, Annalong. Co Down.
KERRY MORRISON
DON'T despair and don't give up. Sooner or later you will have the national peace all children deserve. We know what you are feeling.
We have been bombed, our people slaughtered and peaceful unity has only just begun. You, too can have the peace and harmony of a peaceful society.
No one deserves war and its side effects like famine and pain.
Only by working together can we truly say the days of violence are gone.
Please don't ever give up. Someday you will live in peace and harmony.
All my love and support.
Kerry Morrison 65 Donegall Park Avenue, Belfast.
By LINDSAY FERGUS
THE children of the world have been foremost in the minds of Northern Ireland's young people this week.
Youngsters from the four corners of the province have spared a few quiet moments to pen words of hope to young people around the globe who are living in difficult times.
This week is Unicef's World Children's Week and Ulster's kids, who are currently enjoying a life of peace after so many years of war have offered tender thoughts and gentle words to those living in the midst of conflict.
Even children in Omagh, who have suffered so much in recent weeks after a Real IRA bomb claimed the lives of 29 people, many of them young, have taken time to remember the plight of other young persons.
These innocents, as young as eight, all speak of knowing despair, bombs, slaughter, suffering and bad days but their letters also offer hope and a ray of light in the darkness.
On this page we reproduce letters from just a few Northern Ireland children whose simple words, which are often never really heard, talk of peace, love, support, help, unity and harmony.
CATHERINE MCALEAVEY
I HOPE that Northern Ireland's peace process will work and will help the rest of the world to have peace.
I hope that children's bad days are few and happy days are many. For children who are lucky enough to be well cared for. that they remember the children with very hard lives and try to do things to help.
I hope for people to remember the children and have safe places to play and that very young children should not have to work.
My hope for all children is that they can play and learn, be loved and cared for and have food in homes that are warm and dry and clean. Catherine McAleavey 22 Ormonde Park, Finaghy, Belfast
CATHY GRACE CUNNINGHAM
I HAVE watched many suffering throughout the world during my eleven short years of life. We are so much better off than other countries. We have no shortage of food, we have no shortage of water and money others do! But. I believe that we can change that! You don't have to go out there and plant crops for a family. Certainly this will feed them when the crop ripens. But! It won't feed future generations. If you support charities such as this, they could send people out to those countries to show people how to grow crops and supply them with eg: corn to make bread to feed future generations for a life time!
I believe I can make a difference! I believe you can make a difference.
Children need your help for today and tomorrow forever.
Cathy Grace Cunningham 106 Mill Road, Annalong. Co Down.
KERRY MORRISON
DON'T despair and don't give up. Sooner or later you will have the national peace all children deserve. We know what you are feeling.
We have been bombed, our people slaughtered and peaceful unity has only just begun. You, too can have the peace and harmony of a peaceful society.
No one deserves war and its side effects like famine and pain.
Only by working together can we truly say the days of violence are gone.
Please don't ever give up. Someday you will live in peace and harmony.
All my love and support.
Kerry Morrison 65 Donegall Park Avenue, Belfast.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/313
Published Date: 23-Sep-98
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