A fascinating exhibition of artwork by children from the Fatima Mansions project in Dublin illustrated how a community grew strong again after social deprivation and poverty, President Mary McAleese said yesterday.
The exhibition is organised by The Ark in Dublin's Temple Bar which has been working with children in the community of Fatima Mansions through ArkLink, a community arts programme.
Since 1999, ArkLink has provided children with a range of cultural activities in the areas of visual arts, film, music and dance.
The exhibition is called The Butterfly Effect which celebrates the children as artists.
Opening the exhibition, the President said The Ark was the first custom-built children's cultural centre and it was founded on the strong belief that all children had the same cultural rights as adults.
"That view is surely vindicated today in this exhibition with its theme of the butterfly, a symbol of beauty and freedom emerging from turmoil," she said.
Fatima Mansions was home to a remarkable community that had undergone huge changes. It had moved from social deprivation and poverty - where the culture of drugs and wasted lives brought heartache - to physical regeneration with renewed hearts and minds focused on providing a bright future for Fatima's children, she said.
Owen Mills (15) has been with the project for six years.
"The thing I love is the camera club - and all the younger people can get involved and learn how to use them," he said.
"I hope I can make a career out of it. I can come back here any time. I love light operating and sound engineering."