History of the Ulster Project
Following an extended pastoral exchange with a clergyman in Manchester, Connecticut, Canon Kerry Waterstone, a Church of Ireland (Anglican) priest, received a request from two congregations in that city asking him to formulate a plan in an effort to help ease the tensions in Northern Ireland. After the experience of his own family in America, Canon Waterstone felt that the attitudes of Teenagers from Northern Ireland might be changed, so as to influence the future in Northern Ireland, if they could see and experience the way Americans have learned to live together in their "melting-pot" society.
After obtaining approval from church leaders, Canon Waterstone secured the cooperation of clergy willing to help in the implementation of his plan. Forming the original guidelines for the Project, he focused on the prejudices and stereotypes, which are the root cause of the bitter strife labeled Catholic/Protestant. Nationally, the Project began in the United States in 1975, and by 1995 there were 25 Projects here in the United States.
Ulster Project Today
The Ulster Project works by groups of teenagers, half Protestants and half Catholic, half girls and half boys, going to US cities for the month of July to live in private homes. They are paired with American teenagers of the same sex and approximate age. They live with Host Families, who are on the same side of the Catholic/Protestant "Faith line" and are "matched" by a Committee, selected by the participating American churches.
Accompanied by two adult Counselors, the Northern Irish participants range in age from fourteen to sixteen years, having been evaluated and selected by their teachers and clergy for their leadership potential. At this age, the young people have not committed themselves to any underground militant group and are old enough to profit from this experience.
During the month of the Project, the entire group of Northern Irish and American teenagers meet almost daily for activities, which include encounter sessions, social activities, community service and worship experiences.
Because the Project works so well, developing mutual trust and friendship among the Northern Irish youth and their families, participating Northern Irish leaders plan reunions and meetings after the youth return to Northern Ireland, encouraging and allowing the continuing friendships formed during the Project.