Children across Ireland and Cyprus writing a future of peace with Story Seeds

Children across Ireland and Cyprus have come together for a cross-border initiative that encourages peace, understanding and cultural exchange

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 13:17, 25 Jun 2026 Updated 14:45, 25 Jun 2026 View Image Lord Mayor Cllr Ray McAdam at the launch of Story Seeds with children from the local area

Children across the entire island of Ireland have come together for a cross-border creative initiative that encourages peace and collaboration.

Story Seeds - Island Story Makers was launched with the support of Dublin City Council through the Lord Mayor’s Initiative on Democracy to bring together children from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Cyprus to co-create a shared story. Working together on a four-chapter illustrated booklet, each group of children will contribute a chapter that will ultimately be published in October 2026.

This initiative draws inspiration from the United Nations’ Youth, Peace and Security agenda and highlights storytelling as a tool for connection and understanding. By encouraging young people to explore their identities while building bridges to different communities, DCC states that it embodies their commitment to democracy while encouraging creative expression among youth.

Lord Mayor Councillor Ray McAdam said the project “captures exactly what the Lord Mayor’s Initiative on Democracy is about”. “It gives young people the space to listen, to imagine, to create and to understand one another across borders, cultures and communities,” he said.

“Story Seeds shows us that democracy is not only learned in council chambers or classrooms. It is learned through conversation, through creativity, through respect and through the simple but powerful act of sharing stories.”

“By bringing children from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Cyprus together in one shared creative journey, this initiative is helping to build empathy, confidence and connection. It reminds us that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow. They are voices of hope, peace and understanding today.”

The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) spokesperson Aleem Siddique highlighted their goal of preventing tensions and “building trust among communities” in Cyprus. “UNFICYP’s commitment to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, recognises the indispensable role of young people as drivers of sustainable peace on the island and around the world,” he said.

By bringing together different groups of children to write stories set in their local area, the booklet sees characters travelling between Ireland and Cyprus. Tapping into their unique experiences, the story will weave diverse cultures into one unified narrative.

With facilitated workshops and interactive sessions taking place this June, each school writes a chapter and shares messages and questions to inspire what happens next in the story. The final result will be published as an illustrated booklet in print and digital form, preserving the children’s collaborative vision and will be distributed to all the young authors in October.

With young participants not only developing their writing and communication skills, it also encourages a deeper appreciation of other cultures in a way that fosters empathy and a sense of global citizenship. Fighting Words executive director Colm Ó Cuanacháin described Story Seeds as a “testament to the power of youth voices in shaping a future rooted in peace, creativity and shared understanding”.

“This project not only celebrates and engages the imaginations of young people in Ireland and Cyprus, but also sows the seeds of collaboration and empathy across communities. Through storytelling, we are nurturing the next generation of peace builders, one chapter at a time."

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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