5,000 young people attend peace building events

James Hamber from Rowandale Intergrated Primary School in Moria places a pledge on the peace tree. Credit: Michael Cooper

Around 3,500 young people from schools and youth clubs across Northern Ireland are attending an event in Lisburn, to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Taking place at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, the focus is on asserting and celebrating the role young people can play in peace-building.

The Amazing the Space programme fused musical performances from local young people with messages from international speakers with experience of living in conflict zones.

The initiative was the brainchild of high-profile cleric Dr David Latimer, from Derry First Presbyterian Church, and has been developed with the support of Co-operation Ireland and the Stormont Executive.

A further 1,500 people will attend similar events at five satellite venues in Ballymena, Londonderry, Enniskillen, Bessbrook and Magherafelt.

The celebration will include the reading of peace pledges, (407 of which have been created by NI schools), a range of performance from local young talent and there will be the screening of messages of support for Amazing The Space from around the globe including Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, USA, Korea and Brazil.

One of the lasting legacies of the initiative, a customized sculpture featuring every one of the Peace Pledges will be unveiled for the first time.

  • WATCH: UTV's Natasha Millar reports on Amazing the Space