
UPD Founded in 1976
Charles and Josephine
Robinson, working with Canon Kerry Waterstone of the Church of Ireland in
Tulleymore, founded Ulster Project Delaware in 1976. The program was conceived
as a way to build understanding and trust between Northern Irish Catholic
and Protestant teenagers between the ages of 14-16.
Ulster Project Delaware is the oldest, continuously running Ulster Project
in the United States. Since its start in 1976 it will have brought 576 Northern
Irish teens and some 128 adult leaders to the northern Delaware area from
the towns of Portadown, Banbridge and Coleraine.
In 1988 UPD was awarded the Eisenhower Award by the Delaware chapter
of People to People, ". . . in recognition of a demonstrated and significant
contribution to the advancement of international understanding."
The idea of the Ulster Project has now spread to 25 other communities in 13
other states in the United States.