A major peace-building project aiming to help women boost community relations was launched in Belfast today.

It will provide a series of structured knowledge sharing encounters and mutual learning experiences that support cross community and cross border collaboration. The project will also develop personal community relations skills; and inform local community initiatives.

Funding for the project was provided by The International Fund for Ireland and Board member, Siobhan Fitzpatrick, said:  “The International Fund for Ireland is pleased to provide support to an important programme that will make a lasting difference.  The Learning Through Engagement project will allow women to play a stronger role in community relations and community action. It will empower them to become change leaders in their homes, in their workplaces and in their communities.”

She continued: “Segregation still defines the everyday social experience of many and the verbal, violent and structured intolerance of sectarianism is still pervasive. The contribution of women peacemakers must be celebrated in our communities and it is important that others are encouraged and equipped to join them. This project will help build secure and sustainable relationships that will benefit everyone.”        

Ms Fitzpatrick also expressed a collective thanks to the international donors who have supported the work of the International Fund for Ireland for almost twenty-five years: namely, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Denise Hughes; Senior Facilitator on the Learning Through Engagement Project said: “We recognise the significant contribution women have made to community relations work at a local level and want to proactively engage more women in this work.  We support newly emerged and marginalised women’s groups to engage in knowledge sharing within their own communities and in a cross-community and cross-border setting.   We facilitate engagement with urban and rural women’s groups with the aim that these learning encounters will result in the development of valuable community relations skills that will inform local initiatives.”

Derek Poole, Director of the LINC Project said:  “The project is about tackling the obstacles that limit women’s participation in community relations and community action. Unfortunately individual women and groups can still face challenges when seeking to fulfil a greater leadership role in these areas. Yet it is widely accepted that women bring a distinct set of experiences and alternative perspectives to post conflict community change. Learning Through Engagement aims to redress this and ensure that everyone in society can take a role in community leadership. 

In relation to the funding for the project, he said: “This International Fund for Ireland funding has given us the necessary financial support to deliver a project that will benefit communities for years to come.”

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