Two Year reconciliation programme aimed at 14-16 year olds in South Donegal/Tyrone area

A major two year reconciliation programme aimed at over 300 young people in the 14 -16 year old age group in the South Donegal/Tyrone catchment area was launched in Ballyshannon on 1st June 2012.

‘Engaging the Breesy Way’, which is funded by the International Fund for Ireland, has been co-ordinated by Cashelard Community Development Ltd, a cross community company which established the highly successful Bressy Centre in Cashelard in 2004.  The new programme will consist of two separate one week outdoor pursuits-based residential sessions, with the theme of learning to live with diversity. During the intervening period between sessions, the participants will partake in a workshop on diversity in their own environment. The programme also includes an “in school reconciliation module” which will be delivered across the academic year.

The full academic year participants (140 in 1^st year and 160 in 2^nd year) will come together for one final “mixing day” when their skills will be demonstrated through a community engagement project finishing off with a certification award ceremony.  The participants will create their own legacy project through an interactive social and networking space on Facebook.

Speaking at the launch, Winston Patterson, Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland said:  “The International Fund for Ireland is delighted to be providing €196,845 to support this two year project which engages young people from Donegal and Tyrone in an activities based programme which will focus on team activities and leadership which will teach them the benefits of working together to achieve results.  Coming together in an environment like the Breesy Centre will allow them the space to engage with each other in a natural way: celebrating our diversity as one community. The focus on understanding diversity will also add to their understanding, of themselves and of others”.

Michael McGarrigle, Chairman of Cashelard Community Development Ltd said:  “On behalf of everyone involved in this project, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the International Fund for Ireland for the vital financial support to enable this project to happen.  Through ‘Engaging the Breesy Way’ programme, we aim to increase mutual understanding, shared learning and contact that will have a positive impact on reconciliation between young people in the south Donegal/ Tyrone catchment area.   The programme offers unique extra-curricular activities of value to the personal and social development of students and of the wider school community.

The Cashelard Community Development Group has previously been supported by the Fund to help develop the very successful Breesy Resource Centre.