Projections
Project Trust, an overseas educational trust, was founded at Breacachadh in 1968. The old Castle was the original base of its establishment. 'Old' the castle certainly was; roofless and windowless, famed primarily for its pigeon guano.
Things have changed dramatically since then, as anyone who takes an amble to Breacachadh Bay can verify. Over the years PROJECT has also expanded to Bousd and Ballyhough and the World. From 14th century beginnings, one could almost say, has come one of many examples of a 20th century phenomenon - Voluntary Aid to Third World countries. Almost 2,000 18yr old volunteers have now served overseas under PROJECT auspices. And Coll is where they got their first taste of a ’foreign' community before being sent to countries as far away as China, Brazil, Indonesia, Jordan or Zimbabwe. During the intensive selection course on the island the young people are asked to compare their home community with that of Coll. The majority come from Urban areas of Britain. But some arrive from population areas as small as Coll. There, however, the similarity ends.
Their comments on the comparisons between 'home and here' before they venture out into the greater , though relative, unknown show how Coll has helped make them aware of the diversity of cultures and values within our own small country. "On Coll you have to get on with everyone. We were told that on the first day, but it never really registered until I had experienced a small community first hand and looked below the surface'. It would be very difficult to look below the surface of my own home town Formby. The surface is so large and there is very little beneath it, anyway. It is a growing town, people are moving in constantly, new houses are encroaching on farmland on the outskirts, old buildings are being knocked down for new developments. People have very little sense of belonging; the word community is really an anachronism and hardly applicable. Even churches and schools don't bring people together, as there are so many.
People on Coll have a real attachment to the place. They feel almost an obligation to it - where there is no litter, (? Ed) no graffitti, no police (other than the occasional routine visit). The islanders enforce their own laws on themselves; self discipline is far greater. In the South everyone is always talking about 'culture' and consider themselves to be very sophisticated. Yes, there are no opera houses, no theatres on Coll - they would be totally incongruous . The island has something far more important. An oral tradition, a history that everyone knows, the indigenous native songs and music are well known. (? Ed) I have never heard of a native Formby dance."
"What interested me most about comparing Coll to Five Oaks was the similarity in population. Both communities consist of about 150 people but there seems to be one substantial difference. Five Oaks has a far smaller 'campus' than the island. So all the inhabitants are living much closer together and yet still people are not wanting to live as community, rather to have their independence. On Coll it is because it is an island that everyone is automatically pulled together even although their homes are more scattered.
The fundamental differences I have found have been people's attitudes. At home people are friendly if they meet in the street, or on a walk, but no one will show more hospitality than that. Whereas on Coll we have all been over whelmed by such feeling of welcome. Knowing that keys can be left in the ignition, doors are kept unlocked, these are all things unheard of at home. Despite the gossip that may be involved in such a closed community, the trust of everyone to each other is something that I will remember most."
