Growing Strong (2018)

Synopsis Growing Strong is a short documentary about Integrated Education in Derry ~ Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Integrated Education attempts to bring the divided Nationalist and Unionists communities together by accepting children from all backgrounds and faiths to learn, play and grow together. The documentary follows the students of the Primary Seven class in Oakgrove Integrated Primary School. Through activities and interactions, we see the life and atmosphere of the school unfurl in front of us, and the benefit of moving forward together towards a shared future. Issues of religious and racial diversity are tackled by the robust and articulate class, who uniquely engage in and discuss life in the school. An observational documentary, the narrative belongs to the children, who guide us through our journey through Integrated Education. Not merely an introduction to a particular education model, Growing Strong attempts to explore underlying reasons behind the school's increasing popularity since its opening in 1991.