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The gates still close at 7 p.m. along Belfast’s longest segregation wall, but inside a small youth center, something braver is opening: kids learning to cross lines their grandparents feared. We sit down with Stephen Hughes—42 years in youth work, 13 in Lower Falls—to unpack how a simple, radical method turns inherited prejudice into shared purpose.
Stephen paints the full picture: two Christian communities divided by politics, bound by grief, and weighed down by poverty that grows heavier the closer families live to the wall. His team’s answer is disarmingly human. Start with play, build trust, and let children make one friend across the divide. As they age, add depth: honest dialogue about identity, faith, and power; strength-based mentoring that treats all behavior as communication; and exposure to voices that rarely meet—faith leaders, police, ex-combatants, victims, and peacebuilders. Nothing is off the table, and dignity is non-negotiable.
We follow real stories—from a first meeting that erupted in a fistfight to two former rivals now hosting sleepovers; from reactionary crisis work to a proactive strategy where teens plan cross-community hangouts and take civic ownership of their streets. They repaint hateful slogans, create photo exhibits that reframe the interface, and produce films that chart their journey from suspicion to solidarity. Along the way, churches model a new kind of leadership: humble, cooperative, and grounded in care rather than tribe.
If you’re navigating polarization, propaganda, or rising far-right fear, this conversation offers a replicable path: safe spaces for hard truths, reflection that reshapes language and behavior, and steady mentorship that builds moral character. Share this with someone who needs hope, subscribe for more grounded peacemaking stories, and tell us: what’s one divide you’re ready to cross this week?