Belfast students reopen inter schools peace capsule after 25 years

The event, titled ‘25 Years Later: Opening Hope, Renewing Peace’, brought pupils, teachers, youth leaders, and community representatives together to rediscover messages, artefacts, and commitments placed in the capsule at the beginning of the new millennium—symbols of young people’s hopes for a peaceful future in Northern Ireland.

The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracey Kelly, whose presence affirmed the city’s continued dedication to peacebuilding and positive cross‑community relationships. Also in attendance was Emma Foster, Development Officer with the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE programme, representing the programme’s ongoing commitment to supporting shared education and meaningful collaboration between schools.

The keynote address was delivered by Richard Moore, founder of Children in Crossfire, whose personal story and lifelong dedication to reconciliation inspired students and guests alike. Moore reflected on the progress made over the past 25 years and encouraged today’s young people to remain active custodians of peace.

A central feature of the event was the Procession of Renewed Peace, during which each of the 19 participating post‑primary schools placed a symbolic item representing their school community, values, and hopes for continued peace into a newly prepared capsule. These modern artefacts—ranging from student artwork and written pledges to emblems and objects of significance—capture this generation’s vision for a peaceful, shared future.

The new capsule was then formally sealed, to be reopened by a future generation of young people.

The PEACEPLUS ASPIRE project is led by the Education Authority in partnership with Léargas, Early Years – the organisation for young children, the National Childhood Network, and the Fermanagh Trust. The project is funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).