The People’s History Initiative harnesses people’s interest and passion in history to engage them in a in a process of adult education in which their experiences and stories are central to the learning process.

Background
The People's History Initiative (PHI) began in 1999 and was developed from the Ulster People’s College citizenship curriculum. The Initiative began when tutors became aware that local groups were interested not only in studying history but in learning for themselves how to research the history of their own communities and to present their findings in the form of an exhibition or booklet. The project has primarily been funded by the Community Relations Council.

The People’s History Initiative aims to:
• enable people and communities to have a better understanding of their history;
• enable people to understand and deal positively with the past;
• enable people with different historical perspectives and identities to relate positively to each other;
• encourage excluded groups and communities to explore and present their past;
• enable communities to use their examination of the past to reflect on the present and to plan for the future;
• enhance and develop a cross-community network within which debate and dialogue can take place;
• promote learning and developing skills in using a People’s History approach in reconciliation activities in local communities;
• promote cultural and intercultural awareness.

What does the project offer?
Currently the UPC offers two PHI courses – an unaccredited introductory course; a People’s History Course accredited at Level 2; workshops; lectures and is involved in developmental work.

Introduction to People’s History Course - Participants focus on an exploration of the Home Rule period – the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising – and the impact on current issues of identity and commemoration. This is offered at an introductory level and will create pathways for people who need basic and key skills development in order to participate in the OCN Level 2 People’s History Course or other courses at level 2.

People’s History Course, OCN Level 2 - On this course participants work together to explore the history of their community in the context of the development of neighbouring communities and wider historical developments in Northern Ireland. They develop skills in research, critical self-reflection, analysis, debate, dialogue and produce an exhibition or book production, which enables them to deal with issues of division and diversity. Through the exhibition or booklet produced a wider debate is unlocked in the community on the groups understanding of the past and plans for the future. For instance, ‘The Oul Ballymac – Ballymacarrat in the 50’s and 70’s’; ‘Cockletown – the Greencastle Area, the Blitz, the post-war years and the 1970’s’; Shared History and the Abolition of Slavery.

Education and development inputs - These are designed to allow for project development and are tailored to the needs of groups as they arise. To date development inputs have included: advice on funding and training on website development. Recent work has included a Shared History Project and an Abolition of Slavery Study Group. This study group was composed of community workers who met for seven weeks to explore the history of the abolition of slavery in Ireland. The group produced an exhibition which was launched in the Linenhall Library Belfast at a NICRAS seminar on slavery in June 2007. People’s history Initiative has also supported groups from the Chinese, Polish and Donegall Pass communities to explore and present their stories together in exhibition format.

Workshops, lectures and a conference - Participants from People’s History Courses are currently attending a programme of cross-community lectures delivered at Queens University Belfast on a range of subjects including – the Development of Belfast, Home Rule, Partition, Civil Rights and the Ulster Council Workers Strike. Some cross-community workshops will also be delivered on identity and commemoration.
A History and Peace building conference will be organised where participants can network, share perspectives and approaches and where good practice can be disseminated. Thus PHI aims to make a contribution to the peace building efforts of individuals and local communities by initiating, supporting and facilitating a process which proceeds from single-identity origins (most of the Introduction to People’s History Courses and the OCN Level 2 People’s History courses) to a general collaborative cross-community framework.

Who have we worked with?
The PHI has identified and worked with groups in areas, many of them areas affected by the conflict, which have high levels of multiple deprivation.

The project has worked with participants from areas of the greatest objective need and socially excluded people, from the following groups: educationally disadvantaged; people on a low income and/or who are unemployed; women returners; older people; ex-prisoners and minority ethnic communities.

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