FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ulster Project of Oak Ridge

A Bridge-Building and Peace Making Opportunity

 

Why is there a need for the Ulster Project?

Northern Ireland has experienced centuries of political and religious-social conflict between Catholics and Protestants, and the conflict escalated in the 1970s. Since then, the Ulster Project has fostered the demand for peace person by person through the families of teens who participate. As a nonprofit, volunteer organization, the Ulster Project aims to prepare and strengthen whole families to stand for peace.

How does the Ulster Project work?

The program is designed to expose Northern Irish teens to a life style that accepts cultural and religious differences. A group of Northern Irish teens spends a month with American teens and their families in the summer. To promote tolerance, peace, and team building, we plan a program that includes community service, shared worship, recreation, and discovery sessions.

Are the activities chaperoned?

All Ulster Project activities are chaperoned by adult leaders, adult host family members, and/or Ulster Project staff during the course of the month. During official scheduled activities, the teens are usually accompanied by two adult Northern Irish leaders and two adult American leaders. The Ulster Project has rules and policies that are adhered to at all events. Each host family and teen will receive a copy of these policies and are expected to abide by them.

Will my family have responsibilities before the project begins?

Before the Northern Irish teens arrive, the American teens will be required to attend three to five meetings for training, orientation, and group bonding. In addition, adults in the American host family (those over 18 years of age) will be required to attend at least two orientation sessions, including a seminar in child protection from sexual abuse, as required by our sponsors.

Are the Nothern Irish teens covered by insurance?

Yes, the Northern Irish teens arrive with medical insurance.

What financial responsibilites will we be expected to assume?

There is no fee to participate in the Ulster Project of Oak Ridge. The Ulster Project of Oak Ridge will pay all fees for official scheduled activites for both your Northern Irish guest and your host teen. Local transportation, food, family activities, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the host family. The Northern Irish teen will arrive with some spending money for souvenirs and incidentals. If the host family chooses to take a trip with the guest teen, the family will pay the guest teen’s expenses, just as they would do for their own teen or other family member.

Who can drive the Northern Irish teen and my host teen?

Any adult or family member who is 21+ years of age, has a valid driver’s license, and has current car insurance covering passengers is allowed to drive the Northern Irish teens. For the safety of everyone, we strictly enforce this rule.

What is expected of host parents and families during the month?

Host families are expected to provide a safe, secure, loving, and supportive home environment for their guest and to ensure that the policies and standards of the Ulster Project are fully met during the guest’s stay. The host family provides room and board during the teen’s stay. The room does not have to be private. Northern Irih teens bring their own spending money for extras. Costs of the field trips and official scheduled activities for the host teen and the guest teen are paid for by the Ulster Project.

The host families meet and send off the Northern Irish teens at the airport, and they attend the opening and closing Ulster Project services. Because experiencing unity in worship is a cornerstone of the project, host families are also encouraged to participate in weekend worship services with the project teens. In addition, families are asked to attend at least one group activity per week, usually a host family dinner meeting. Host parents and families may volunteer to organize or help with additional activities (such private pool parties) but are not required to do so. Perhaps the largest commitment of the host families is to provide transportation to and from project activities each day.

What are the policies and standards of the Ulster Project?

The Ulster Project has a written set of rules and policies that guide the actions of the board members, staff, hosts families, and participating teens. These rules and policies are contained in a notebook that will be presented to the host families after they are tentatively selected. Before selection is made final, host families and teens must agree to abide by the rules and policies.

What is expected of host teens during the month?

The primary responsibility of the American host teens during the month is to be gracious and thoughtful hosts. The host teens must take care to show the Northern Irish teens that they are glad to have them here and that they are interested in learning about them and the issues of Northern Ireland. Host and guest teens are expected to participate in all official scheduled activities of the Ulster Project, including worship services at Catholic and Protestant churches. The project schedule involves a nearly daily commitment for at least half the day, often more. It is a lot like going to “summer camp” but without leaving home!

How can we learn more about the scheduled activities?

The application packet includes a sample calendar based on activities in other years. In late spring, as participants’ and sponsors’ commitments become clear, the Ulster Project board will compile a tentative calendar and a pamphlet listing specific activities of the summer. The tentative calendar and pamphlet will be available during orientation. Invariably, some activities must be added or changed as the month proceeds, in response to teens’ needs or other exigencies. The host families play an active role in the final development of the summer calendar to make it as workable as possible for all families.

Will the host family get a chance to know the guest teen outside of group activities?

Absolutely. We include blocks of Family Time on the calendar specifically to encourage the host family and the Ulster Project teens to do things together on a more individual basis. Near the middle of the host month, we schedule a three-day Family Weekend, which can serve as a mini-family vacation. Families may go on a trip with their guest teen or do things together locally.

Can the host teens see their friends during the host month?

Yes. Although the official schedule is busy, some activities will be designed to include friends. Friends can also visit host teens (and guest teens) during Family Time and unscheduled blocks of time. We expect the host teen to include the guest teen in activities with friends.

Can the host teens participate in outside activities during the month?

To an extent. The Ulster Project recognizes that many extracurricular activities start during the summer, even as early as mid-July. The host teen is encouraged to participate in as many scheduled project activities as possible, but accommodations can be made with the approval of the Ulster Project Board. If a host teen must miss a scheduled event, we still expect the guest teen to attend.

Does the host family have obligations after the host month is over?

The Ulster Project asks the host families to file an evaluation near the end of the host month and to attend a follow-up meeting in early September. As a volunteer organization, the Ulster Project invites host parents and teens to help with plans for the next year’s activities. In addition, we ask the host families to put on the first welcome supper for the host families and teens the following summer.

For further information:

To learn more about the international organization, log on to www.ulsterproject.org.

For information about the Oak Ridge chapter of the Ulster Project, contact John Hough at  (865) 405-5929
e-mail:  jhough20@comcast.net