Limerick Education and Reconciliation Network

Building on its long history of contributions in peacebuilding, providing for seminars, conferences and people to people exchanges since 1984, the Irish Peace Institute would like to introduce you to the LEaRN (Limerick Education and Reconciliation Network) project.

1. Introduction.

The LEaRN project as a three year interactive reconciliation programme will develop a cross-border network with a focus on links between the Mid-West region and council Northern Ireland. The overall programme has a geographical focus grounded in the IPI's previous links and experience working in the following areas;

" West/Southwest of Ireland (Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway and Kerry)
" Northern Ireland in the Council areas of; Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Newry & Mourne , and Newtownabbey.
" Organisations in other Council areas who are prepared to commit to the programme criteria.

2. Capacity Building.

The IPI is currently in the middle of a capacity building year which will position us to carry out this three year interactive reconciliation programme to build sustainable cross-community relationships between divided communities through the provision of challenging contact based programmes which address issues of common concern. The first three years will be the implementation phase during which the institute will facilitate 16 contact based relationship building projects (exchanges) each year.

The projects will focus on;

" Providing structured, challenging and relevant high quality cross community and cross border contact opportunities in NI and the ROI for community groups.

" Deepening relationships between communities in Northern Ireland as part of a tripartite programme through a range of actions located in Northern Ireland.

" Building Networks of awareness in Limerick and the partnership areas of Northern Ireland involving participants in the programme and which will help disseminate learning.

" Providing training appropriate to the needs of the participants and which will contribute to the deepening of relationships between them.

" Providing a range of practical supports to the development of self sustaining relationships between participating groups.

" Identifying the key interests of community groups in the designated catchment areas in order to agree agendas for collaboration between participants.

" Implementing structural changes at staff and corporate governance levels within the IPI to enhance the organisations capacity to implement this plan.

" Developing and implementing an annual operational plan.

3. Future Focus.

It is envisaged that in each year of the three-year implementation phase 16 exchange opportunities will involve both social and more structured interactions around a wide range of possible themes which ultimately need to be attractive to participant groups and need to demonstrate the potential to deliver a self sustaining relationship.

The IPI is currently linking with a number of groups who would be interested in participating in this programme. Over the three year implementation phase of this plan which will follow the current capacity building period, many sustainable tripartite relationships between community groups can be achieved.

Participants will be recruited from particular sectors, age and interest groups in each community and will be given the opportunity to work together within their own community to reinforce the learning and help extend the learning from their participation in the programme to a wider audience and the community at large.

4. Outcome:

Cross-border contact is part of an acclimatising process that builds trust and can lead to cross-community contact. The reconciliation aspect of the LEaRN project will be enhanced by the inclusion of an increased cross-community focus which will use cross-border exchanges to increase cross-community contact

" Meaningful contact which addresses issues of cross-community as well as cross-border reconciliation.

" An experience to bring a broader impact to the community

" The project will address issues of conflict relevant to their own community and area.

" Entrust to a long term commitment.

For more information or an expression of interest in joining the LEaRN Network contact: Niall MacMahon (Ireland) or James Wilson (Northern Ireland)