Three projects in Donegal and two in Derry are being funded by the International Fund for Ireland.
It’s part of a €1.2 million package this morning under the Peace Impact Programme, Personal Youth Development Programme and Communities in Partnership.
Bundoran Community Development receives almost €134,000 over a 21 month period to deliver the Wild Atlantic Youth Project to support 16 at risk young people in communities along the South Donegal Atlantic coast and in the South Donegal border area.
Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre & Include Youth has received just under €75,000 for the ‘L.E.A.D’ Project for one year. It will work with young people on a cross-community, cross-border basis in rural and isolated communities on each side of the East Donegal-West Tyrone border.
Amharclann Ghaelige Ghaoth Dobhair in Gweedore is partnering with the Waterside Theatre Company in Derry, with just over €107,000 provided for a one year cross-border and cross-community creative arts programme, which will culminate in a play exploring the impact of war on people and communities.
Meanwhile, two Derry projects ; Creggan Enterprises and Resolution North West on the Waterside are also being supported.
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Report in full –
IFI Peace Funding to Provide Critical Support for Vulnerable Communities
- Three Donegal projects are successful in latest funding package
December 6th, 2022: The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) has announced €1,163,263/ £1,029,436 funding to provide support to a range of projects across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. This package comes at a fragile time in peace building as political instability and the cost-of-living crisis threaten to cause polarization and further breakdown in community relations.
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. It currently supports a total of 23 projects in the southern border counties and 38 projects in Northern Ireland.
Funding will be awarded to 10 projects across three IFI Programmes including the Peace Impact Programme (PIP), Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) and Communities in Partnership (CiPP).
Bundoran Community Development CLG will use €133,751 under PYDP for 21 months to deliver the W.A.Y. (Wild Atlantic Youth) Project to support 16 at risk young people in communities along the South Donegal Atlantic coast and in the South Donegal border area. Participants will have the opportunity to undertake accredited and non-accredited training and receive support to enhance their employability.
Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre & Include Youth has received €74,941 under PYDP for the ‘L.E.A.D’ Project for one year. It will work with young people on a cross-community, cross-border basis, living in rural, semi-rural, single identity and hard-to-reach communities on each side of the East Donegal-West Tyrone border.
Amharclann Ghaelige Ghaoth Dobhair in Gweedore with partner Waterside Theatre Company in Derry will use €107,191 under CiPP for a one year cross-border and cross-community creative arts programme, focusing on building meaningful, lasting cross-border relationships and connections between people that share an interest in the creative arts and literature north and south. They plan to perform a play to provide a platform for dialogue about the impact of war on people and communities.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte welcomed the latest funding package; “This support comes at a critical time and will benefit many communities under our current Programmes. Peace building work with those who are often hardest to reach has never been more important. Our projects are working tirelessly in a very difficult climate to engage with those who have not felt the benefits of the Peace Process. We are committed to delivering cross-community and cross-border outreach, encouraging challenging conversations to deal with the current issues as well as the legacy of The Troubles.
“In the past 12 months, the IFI has engaged with over 19,000 people in capacity building, events, and training. Through tailored and unique support, 862 young people have achieved accreditations and 125 secured employment. These encouraging outcomes show that it is possible to achieve positive community transformation, but we must continue to build on this for future generations.”
“However, the continuing suspension of the NI Executive and the on-going uncertainty around the NI Protocol are causing polarization and hardening views across some communities in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Unfortunately, this has led to increased mistrust, disillusionment, and the feeling of being left behind with little optimism for the future.
“If we add the cost-of-living crisis into this mix, the stark reality is that many marginalised communities who feel they received little from the Good Friday Agreement remain the most vulnerable and need positive intervention. The current instability has created a large vacuum filled with opportunity for paramilitary groups to exploit and gain prominence.
“We also recognise the importance of offering opportunities for young people who, without this support, would remain more susceptible to paramilitary recruitment or anti-social behaviour. We continue to successfully divert young people away from activity that could be detrimental to their future.”
The Peace Impact Programme (PIP) is receiving €559,911/ £495,496. It delivers work through sensitive interventions in communities that have not previously, or have only partially, participated in peace building and reconciliation activities.
The Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) will use €208,692 /£184,683 to help the most at-risk young people in society to improve their confidence and personal resilience, develop a better understanding of culture and identity, and develop practical skills that improve their employment prospects.
Border communities will receive €394,660 / £349,257 through the Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP). This important Programme aims to build resilience and empower communities to develop strong cross-border partnerships that deliver meaningful benefits through local leadership. The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is a new addition to funding under this programme across County Fermanagh and County Leitrim. It will support and empower young people through sport and workshops to unlock their potential.
The funding was announced at the IFI’s recent Board meeting in County Fermanagh. The Chairman took the opportunity to thank international donors to the Fund – the British and Irish Governments as well as the Government of the United States of America. The Chair also thanked the Fund’s international observers, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – for their continued support.
The breakdown of funding across IFI Programmes is as follows:
| € | Stg
£ |
|
| Peace Impact Programme | 559,911 | 495,496 |
| Personal Youth Development Programme | 208,692 | 184,683 |
| Communities in Partnership Programme | 394,660 | 349,257 |
| Totals | €1,163,263
|
£1,029,436 |
Full Funding Allocations
Peace Impact Programme
County Antrim
£256,123/€289,419 to Dalaradia Cultural Historical Association for two years to extend and expand the conflict transformation programme based in Rathcoole and surrounding areas. This will include the addition of a women’s development project, supporting them and building their capacity for peace building.
County Londonderry~Derry
£76,268/€86,183 to Creggan Enterprises Limited for one year to continue their work in the Derry and Strabane District Council area with at risk young people and residents focussing on supporting transition, cross- community, multi-cultural and marginalised community engagement through quiet diplomacy, mediation, and community intervention.
£163,105/€184,309 to Resolution North West for two years to deliver a programme to build stronger, more confident communities focusing on transitioning and mentoring, culture and identity, and mediation, based in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry.
Personal Youth Development Programme
County Donegal
£118,364/€133,751 to Bundoran Community Development CLG for 21 months to deliver the W.A.Y. (Wild Atlantic Youth) Project to support 16 at risk young people in communities along the South Donegal Atlantic coast and in the South Donegal border area. Participants will have the opportunity to undertake accredited and non-accredited training and receive support to enhance their employability.
£66,320/€74,941 to Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre & Include Youth for the 1 year ‘L.E.A.D’ Project. The project will work with young people on a cross-community, cross-border basis, living in rural, semi-rural, single identity and hard-to-reach communities on each side of the East Donegal-West Tyrone border.
Communities in Partnership Programme
County Armagh/ County Cavan/ County Fermanagh/ County Tyrone/ County Monaghan
£79,341/€89,655 to Storytellers of Ireland (Armstrong Storytelling Trust) for the one year ‘Border Talk’ Project. This project will deliver cross-border, cross-community storytelling events and training programmes to promote the tradition of oral storytelling and develop a network of storytellers who can deliver cross-border events into the future, leading to increased cross-border activities and reconciliation among border communities.
County Donegal/County Londonderry~Derry
£94,859/€107,191 to Amharclann Ghaelige Ghaoth Dobhair (Waterside Theatre Company Limited) for a one year cross-border and cross-community creative arts programme, focusing on building meaningful, lasting cross-border relationships and connections between people that share an interest in the creative arts and literature north and south.
County Down/County Louth
£76,835/€86,824 to Louth Comhairle na nOg/Dundalk Youth Centre (Newry and Mourne Youth Council/Education Authority Northern Ireland) for a one year cross-border project promoting the engagement of young people in civic society and supporting them to discuss issues relevant to young people in the Dundalk and Newry border region and to share and articulate their views with policy makers in their local areas.
County Leitrim/County Fermanagh
£98,221/€110,990 to Rio Ferdinand Foundation (Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and Leitrim Sports Partnership)) for 12 months. The project will operate on a cross-border and cross-community basis in the Fermanagh- Leitrim border region facilitating engagement with young people with limited opportunity for contact and developing sustainable relationships at a grassroots and statutory level. This will take place through a Youth Development programme, using the medium of sport, encompassing workshops, tournaments and cross-border statutory collaborative management and design.
