A group of teens from Portadown, Northern Ireland are coming to Kansas Friday afternoon to begin their month as part of the Ulster Project. 14 of those teens will be a part of the 13th project in Hutchinson. The rest will participate in the project in McPherson.

The Ulster Project is based on a simple idea of sharing experiences. Northern Irish Catholic and Protestant teenagers are hosted by American families of the same religion and with a teenager of the same age and gender.

The teens meet daily in structured activities designed to foster trust between the different cultures represented in the project.

The Ulster Project was started in 1975 by Rev. Kerry Waterstone, a priest in Northern Ireland, in order to provide a safe place in North America for Northern Irish teenagers to discuss the climate of  “The Troubles” that was facing them at home. Currently, the project brings teens from eleven cities in Northern Ireland. The Northern Irish teens are selected for this experience based on recommendations from their clergy and teachers.

The Hutchinson and McPherson chapters of the Ulster Project are among 29 cities and 17 states which host the Northern Irish teens. 

The public is invited to attend the Opening Ecumenical Service on Saturday evening starting at 6 p-m, at the First Mennonite Church. Other public events include the garage sale and car wash July 14th at Trinity Catholic High School, and the Talent Show at the Flag Theatre July 23rd.