PEACE III Project
HARNESSING EQUALITY FOR LASTING PEACE (HELP) PROJECT 2009 - 2011
The Donegal Regional Network has been funded by the EU PEACE III Programme through the Community Relations Council/Pobal Consortium under Priority 1 Reconciling Communities, Theme 1.2 Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past, Strand 3 Securing the Future.
The aim of the project is to take the opportunities afforded by the current peace programme to sustain the peace through the development of equality focused Peace Networks and the promotion of quality Community Work as a means of intervention for lasting social change. Downlaod a copy of Donegal Community Work News here
CWC Donegal Network - Peace III Project launch & Seminar
Pauline Perry, Development Worker, Pobal, officially launched the 'Harnessing Equality for Lasting Peace' (HELP) Project on Wednesday 16th September in the Ramada Hotel, Letterkenny. The project has received its funding through the European Union's Peace III Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. The grant was secured under Theme 1.2 Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past, Strand 3 - Securing the Future that is administered by the Community Relations Council/Pobal Consortium. The HELP project will build on the work piloted by the CWC in Donegal under previous Peace programmes.
The HELP project will work in Donegal and on a cross border basis in the North West to facilitate the creation of meaningful and lasting cross-community and intercultural dialogue. This dialogue will be facilitated through the expansion and development of Peace networks and by bringing forward the issues of people affected by racism and sectarianism through a range of policy structures. Additionally, HELP intends to work creatively with community and public sector organisations to adopt accepted community work standards which will promote equality and social justice principles. The aim is to aid peacebuilding and reconciliation work in the region. HELP will also document and share the innovative actions and lessons arising out of the project which will seek to address and prevent any outbreak of violence into the future.
In conjunction with the launch of the Peace III Project, the Donegal CWC hosted the first in a series of planned seminars. The seminar entitled Equality - the Roadmap to Peace & Development Seminar provided the opportunity to explore the context in which peace building and community work is currently operating.
The recent crisis in national and global financial systems and the current model of development have resulted in a disastrous landscape for many individuals and families and for future generations. The most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in society are being required to bear the greatest share of cutbacks in public sector services. Community organisations which have been to the forefront in combating inequality, poverty, racism and discrimination have been deprived of the funding, developmental supports and infrastructure that are crucial to their work. This context is particularly relevant in the Border counties where it is affecting the work of building the capacity of groups and individuals to deal with the transition to peace and reconciliation.
Ann Irwin, CWC National Co-ordinator spoke about the the intrinsic links between equality and peace building. She also spoke about the balance between political leadership and building the conditions for lasting peace at grass roots level and she also emphasised the importance of community work as an approach to peace building, prioviding as it does essential elements such as particiaption, collective action and empowerment that are so important to embedding peace at local level.
Miriam Titterton,Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission outlined the recent work of the Commission on developing and promoting a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland arising from a commitment made in the Belfast Agreement . The Agreement also contains a commitment to developing a Charter of Rights for the island of Ireland.
Niall Crowley, Equality & Diversity Consultant, was the keynote speaker. In his presentation, he outlined the recent dismantling of the equality and community infrastructure as well as the weakening of the public sector as the main deliverers of services. He addressed the need for an alternative model of development. He encouraged the participants, which comprised of over 40 community workers and representatives from statutory bodies from both sides of the border, to form alliances to produce an alternative model of development to that currently being proposed.
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This project is supported by the European Union's PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Community Relations Council/Pobal consortium
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