After launching in Stormont on 4th February 2025, this youth-led campaign by NSPCC Northern Ireland and Footprints Women’s Centre takes on Imagine! Festival with a powerful art exhibition about healthy relationships.
The goal of Brave Belfast Cailíní (or “girls” in Irish) is to help young women and girls understand healthy relationships, set boundaries, and know that they can speak up and seek support if something isn’t right.
The exhibition features artwork from each of the young women, expressing how they view healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Annmarie (15): “One flower is tall and bright with positive words, and the other is wilting under negative words. I wrote ‘Be the Sun, not the Storm’ because positive words and support can help someone grow, while negativity keeps them down.”
Niamh (16): “I wrote a poem called *Girlhood* that’s about how being a girl often means our pain is brushed off as hormonal or dramatic. It’s about the struggles we face in relationships and how sometimes love feels like a losing game.”
The art created by Kyna and Rioghnach shows just how much even young girls understand the challenges women face today. Kyna’s work highlights the power of words and how they can affect girls’ confidence, while Rioghnach’s piece symbolises the importance of watching out for unhealthy patterns in relationships.
The Cailíní, who range in age from 11 to 16, led everything for the campaign – from designing the name and logo to creating resources and a website. And the campaign name? They chose *Brave Belfast Cailíní* because they want every girl to know it’s okay to talk about relationships, that it’s brave to speak out when something’s wrong, and that you’re never alone in it.
The theme they’ve built around is *“Be a Girl’s Girl,”* which encourages girls to support each other, raise awareness about healthy relationships, and help one another get the resources and support they need.
Grace (14): “Being part of Brave Belfast Cailíní has been amazing. I’ve learned so much about relationships—what’s healthy, what’s not, and how to support my friends. I feel comfortable in this group and know I always have someone to talk to.”
Ayse (12): “This project has been so much fun! My favourite part was designing the logo—it was inspiring to see how different girls expressed our courage and bravery through art.”
Niamh (16): “Unhealthy relationships can happen at any age. I’ve seen it happen to someone I know, and it got really bad. That’s why it’s so important for us to talk to each other. Being a part of this campaign has definitely made me more aware and confident.”
Rioghnach (16): “Being part of this campaign has taught me what makes a relationship healthy, what doesn’t, and how to speak up if something feels wrong. It’s also made me realize how important it is to be a good friend.”
To find out more about the campaign and check out their resources, head to www.footprintswomenscentre.org/bravebelfastcailini. For young people seeking support on any of these topics, contact Childline at 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk. Childline is available 24/7 to all young people up to 19 years old.
The Brave Belfast Cailíní Art Exhibition is in 2 Royal Avenue for one week only, launching on 4.00pm, Monday 24th March. You can book tickets here.
