Urban Villages Focus Magazine ISSUE 9

Urban Villages Initiative in EastSide

EAST BELFAST

Different Voices Shape a Story

The EastSide Voices Conflict Tours is not what you might expect! This community led tourism project takes you beyond the conflict and reveals different stories and interpretations. It forms part of a wider strategic cross-cutting approach to tourism within EastSide and other Urban Village areas across Belfast and Derry~Londonderry. The Urban Villages Initiative has facilitated wider collaboration and support from partner organisations. Ulster University, National Museums NI and EastSide Tourism have played an important part in a capacity building programme around tourism. The project’s partnership approach has brought together Charter NI (lead partner), Short Strand Community Forum, Ballymac Friendship Centre and The Andy Tyrie Centre to deliver this peace tourism initiative within the East Belfast Urban Village area.

The collaboration of cross community partner organisations showcases the local peace and reconciliation process and puts local culture, heritage and history at the forefront of the regeneration of East Belfast. Tours of the local area focus on specific aspects of social, historical and political history. The partner groups have together shaped a common narrative around the impact Local people trained as tour guides provide opportunities to share stories from different community perspectives. The project partners have developed an online booking platform and social media presence and are now preparing to market the tours to tourists and visitors to Belfast. of the ‘Troubles’ on the life of their community, while maintaining their own unique perspective.

EastSide Voices Film: https://youtu.be/vUQ8k5sdmWI

Urban Villages Initiative | Focus Magazine Issue 9