Wednesday 14 May 2025

 

A BOLD new international writing project is set to connect young creatives from Northern Ireland with their peers in the Caribbean.

Project Fusion Junction - supported by the British Council and delivered in Northern Ireland by creative writing charity Fighting Words NI - will bring together young writers, illustrators, musicians, and designers aged 14–18 from Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica to co-create a multimedia graphic novel over the next 12 months.

Launched recently at the Bocas Lit Fest in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the initiative represents an ambitious cross-cultural collaboration between Bocas Lit Fest, the Jamaica Book Festival and Fighting Words NI. It offers young creatives a platform to tell the stories that matter to them, explore shared and personal themes, and build new skills through mentorship, workshops, and creative exchange.

Fifteen young participants from each country will take part in the programme, which will include both online and in-person creative residencies. The resulting graphic novel will be launched at Bocas Lit Fest in May 2026, with accompanying pop-up events and exhibitions planned for Jamaica and Northern Ireland.

Aoife Osborne, Operations and Programme Coordinator, at Fighting Words NI, spoke about the project's importance for Northern Ireland: “At Fighting Words NI, our mission is to unlock the joy and power of creative writing for children and young people. Project Fusion Junction will support young writers from across Northern Ireland to create, collaborate and connect on an international level. It is a truly unique opportunity for young writers in Northern Ireland to open new doors and share their own stories, experiences and perspectives. By exploring different forms of storytelling, crafting new work and publishing an online graphic novel, Project Fusion Junction celebrates everything that is magical and empowering about youth writing."

Participants in Northern Ireland will be selected through Fighting Words NI’s Write Club, while similar selection programmes will run in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The project will also feature contributions from established creatives across all three countries - including authors, illustrators, musicians, and digital artists - who will act as mentors and facilitators throughout the year.

Jonathan Stewart, Director of British Council Northern Ireland, added:

“It’s wonderful to see this youth-led arts project bring together a shared love of storytelling from Northern Ireland, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. At the British Council, we believe in the power of creativity to connect cultures and communities. By placing young people at the centre of this international collaboration, we’re nurturing talent, sparking imagination, and encouraging meaningful global dialogue.”

This initiative is part of the British Council’s wider commitment to international cultural exchange and youth development in the creative industries. For more information on British Council Northern Ireland’s work in Northern Ireland, visit https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/ or follow them on X, Facebook, and Instagram

Notes to Editor

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Claire McAuley, Senior Media and Campaigns Manager, British Council: +44 (0)7542268752 E: Claire.McAuley@britishcouncil.org 

About Fighting Words NI

Fighting Words NI is a Northern Ireland-based youth charity dedicated to empowering children and young people aged 6-18 through the transformative power of creative writing. We believe that every young person has a unique story to tell, and our mission is to provide them with the tools, support, and inspiration to express themselves confidently and creatively.

Since 2015, Fighting Words NI has reached more than 24,000 young people across Northern Ireland, providing them with opportunities to write their own stories and share their voices with the world. Their programmes are designed to be engaging, inspiring, and fun, fostering a love of writing and storytelling that will last a lifetime.

Fighting Words’ approach is inclusive and welcoming, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their background or abilities. They are committed to making their programmes accessible to all, and we offer them free of charge to schools, youth groups, and after-school clubs. Their work is made possible by the generous support of their donors, volunteers, and staff team, who share our passion for empowering young people through creativity.

To learn more about Fighting Words, visit https://www.fightingwords.co.uk/

or follow @fightingwordsni

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language.  We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people. 
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