If we do not know our history, we are doomed to repeat it.

Chris Skillen from Shimna Integrated College in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, wants to expose his students to African American history from slavery to civil rights with a focus on what role religion played in the process.

Skillen comes by this combination naturally, he not only is a teacher but he also is a Irish Methodist local preacher.

Hands on work always helps to make a course more real for a student so Skillen reached out to A.M.E. Today to ask if some doors could be opened which would allow his students to fellowship with A.M.E. students as this griping topic is studied at school.

Today's technology not only permits this to be easily accomplished, but I am suggesting to Skillen that perhaps part of this discussion could be held in a special forumn set up for the students so we all may benefit from the insights that the students form. This is not to preclude the one-on-one contact but perhaps serve as an enhancement to it.

Skillen best tells the story of this project in his own words.

"I am writing to ask if you can help me," he began.

"I'm an Irish Methodist, local preacher, and school teacher. I'm head of religious studies in an 'integrated' school," Skillen continued.

He explained, "That means roughly half our students come from the Protestant community and half from the Catholic community.

"I'm planning a big, cross-curricular project for next autumn/winter, on the general subject of 'slavery to civil rights', especially the positive and negative roles of Christians in all that history.

"I'm really keen to introduce my students to the experience of the A.M.E. Church, as it shows both the appalling behaviour of racists and the courage of those who founded the Church.

"Although the project is based on the American experience, there's clearly a subtext for our own situation in Northern Ireland. Can you help me to make contacts with young A.M.E. members who might be willing to exchange e-mails or letters with my students?"

This type of cross fellowship opens doors of learning for all who are involved. We will post more information on this project as it progresses but for the interim, anyone interested in participating can drop a note to A.M.E. Today with the subject Ireland.