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ROADMAP THE BOOK OF BELONGING A beautiful, import
ant and moving new book that collects stories, poems and drawings from young people from around the world, communicating their thoughts on what makes them feel like they belong. Available for free online, and gathering over 29 contributions from Ireland, Ethiopia, Honduras and Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The book launched on September 25th at the GOAL NextGen Z-Change event, where two of the contributors, Aoife Sharkey from Ireland, and Sondra Mejia from Honduras, read excerpts from the work alongside an stunning exhibition. Featuring work from renowned street artist and activist, Emmalene Blake, Nigerian Irish poet/performer Felispeaks and Turkish Animator and Illustrator, Mert Tugen, the exhibition explored themes of cultural identity, inclusivity and diversity, with Both the book and the artwork responding to the question ‘What makes you feel like you belong?’ Victoria Walshe, GOAL Global Citizenship Manager, said of the work: “We want to tackle challenges of loneliness and social polarisation by creating an opportunity for people to reflect on how we all yearn to belong and to consider how we can all help others to feel like they belong. The theme feels more crucial than ever before. As a Humanitarian and Development Agency, GOAL encounters daily the challenges facing the global community. It is not possible for any one country, community, or sector to end poverty, fight inequality, tackle climate change and provide sustainable livelihoods. We must collaborate to become a global network of citizens, united in our ambition to improve our world.” Read the Book of Belonging Free Below goalglobal.org/xchange/#belonging CRASH ENSEMBLE X ANDREW HAMILTON The always innovative Crash Ensemble have announced the release of Friendly Piece, a collaboration with noted Dublin-born composer Andrew Hamilton, a highly regarded figure in the contemporary classical scene who has collaborated with ensembles the world over. Commissioned in 2019 and written during Hamilton’s tenure as composer-in-residence with Crash Ensemble, Friendly Piece, recorded live at Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2023, explores “friendliness and loving kindness”. Hamilton says: “The sound of a bird’s wings flapping in Monaghan, a sacred text that helped so much to get through dark times, memories of a childhood obsession with The Sound of Music and much more are cut up and thrown into a grid to allow all these elements to intermingle – simplistic answers to be destroyed. Can music be kind? I set that as an impossible question at the beginning of the process, it is good to have no idea what you are doing sometimes. It allows room for freedom and the expanded heart to seep in when your back is turned.” Kate Ellis, Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble, says: “Friendly Piece is one of the happiest soul nourishing pieces we have played. It’s been a pleasure watching Andrew’s ideas unfold through workshopping in the early stages of the piece and then coming to life in front of audiences at New Music Dublin & Kilkenny Arts Festival. Friendly Piece is the result of Andrew’s fruitful residency with Crash. He is a brilliant human and it has been a joy to work with him during his residency.” 10