Founder of the Dunn & Lewis Youth Development Foundation Gayle Dunn has traveled to Northern Ireland to see and study first hand the sorts of groundbreaking youth programs that have been set up in that country following decades of sectarian violence which has had a profound impact on its youth.

Gayle was accompanied by Nicole Sullivan, sister of Danny Lewis who, along with Gayle's son Craig, was killed in the Bali bombings. Nicole is a child psychologist and both were taken on a tour of youth facilities in the capital Belfast and Omagh, the scene of one of the most devastating terrorist bombings in Northern Ireland.

Gayle sees a lot of similarities between the major youth issues in those cities as in regional Australia. Those being youth unemployment, drinking, drugs, depression and violent lawlessness. Gayle described the visit as an excellent opportunity to study the sorts of programs that are making profound difference to the lives of young people in situations not dissimilar to our own in regional Australia.

Many of these initiatives will be adopted at the Dunn & Lewis Memorial Youth Centre which began construction December 2006 in Ulladulla.

While in Ireland Gayle and Nicole visited the 174 Trust which houses a boxing gym which for a time was ironically the only place where catholic & protestant youth came together - peacefully. The gym was set up with the help and support of the famous Kronk gym in Detroit, the starting place of many world boxing champions. The building also houses 'Australia Hall' so named because it was refurbished with the help of Irish Australians.

Now the Irish are returning the favour by helping Gayle with the hope that once the Dunn & Lewis Memorial Youth Centre is completed there will be an exchange of ideas and staff. The visit to Northern Ireland was made possible by local Ulladulla businessman Peter Cosgrove.

 
The Complex will serve as a permanent reminder to our country
and others of the events and aftermath of the Bali Bombings



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The Dunn & Lewis Youth Development Foundation
Helping Tomorrow's Adults become today's Youths
PO Box 373 Ulladulla 2539
Ph: 0408 540684 - Email Foundation