Four Donegal-based projects receive support for peacebuilding initiatives

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) has awarded €3,789,268/ £3,305,873 to 17 projects across Northern Ireland and the border counties - including four from Donegal - to deliver peace and reconciliation work. 

The latest round of funding will assist projects across a range of initiatives including engaging with communities who have yet to see or experience peace dividends from the Good Friday Agreement. 

Four projects across Donegal have received support through the Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) and Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP). 

They are Milford and District Resource CLG, Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre and Include Youth, the Manchester United Foundation and the Breen Centre.

Milford and District Resource CLG has been awarded €167,288/£148,042 through PYDP for the two-year ‘Mulroy Youth Engagement Project’/The MYE Future Project’. Based in Milford, it will outreach into isolated, rural community areas across north Donegal and intends to recruit 18 young people who will benefit from training and support in good relations, personal and social development, and employability skills. 

Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre and Include Youth have received €171,014/£151,339 through PYDP for the 24-month ‘Leadership Education for the Appreciation of Diversity’ (LEAD) project. It will work with new groups of up to 35 young people each year, aged 16-20, from communities on each side of the East Donegal-West Tyrone border in partnership with local schools. Outreach group work will also see the project link up with youth groups, sports clubs, and community organisations.  

Manchester United Foundation have been awarded €349,941 / £309,683 through CiPP for the 24-month ‘Inspires Programme’ that will connect with young people and inspire them to make positive choices in their lives. 

The project will connect three schools and communities on a cross-border and cross-community basis by exploring social and cultural experiences, education and the community, and community cohesion. This will be delivered in partnership with Rosses Community School, Dungloe; St Joseph’s Boys’ School, Creggan in Derry; Oakgrove Integrated College, Strathfoyle Derry and, Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), and Ulster University, Magee/

Breen Centre has been awarded €148,599/ £131,504 with cross-border partner Inishowen Development Partnership via CiPP for the 12-month ‘Women Crossing Borders’ project. It will deliver opportunities for sustained, meaningful and purposeful contact between individuals and groups of different backgrounds, on a cross-border basis. Led by women, it will explore how to develop sustainable and thriving groups from marginalised and disadvantaged areas. It will be delivered across county Donegal and Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. 

“We recognise that a lot of progress has been made but the reality on the ground indicates that there are many who feel that the Peace Process has not delivered what it should have, particularly in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland,” IFI Chair Paddy Harte said.

“Our projects are working within incredibly challenging environments where issues around culture, identity, flags, bonfires, sectarianism, trauma and ongoing paramilitary influences are causing deep division. “Recent elections may also have stirred up disaffection within communities, creating more extreme political views. This can often create a vacuum of instability particularly in marginalised communities where young people can be more susceptible to paramilitary or criminal influence. 

“Part of this funding is providing targeted interventions for at-risk young people, instilling confidence, and offering more positive life choices. By empowering young people to take control of their lives, we can give communities the tools to help create stability and opportunity for future generations.” 

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 64 projects in Northern Ireland and 27 in the southern border counties.