Peace and Reconciliation Group

Since the beginning of February 2008 PRG has been working with various groups of loyalist men in different areas, including Ballymena and East Belfast. This work originally began with one group, who were formed with a view to developing reconcilitation and community work in their area. All 15 members of the group completed a training programme focused on issues of self identity and community identity as well as examining the identity of the other side, as well as exploring perceptions and stereotypes and building a sense of respect for diversity and shared cultural aspects.

During the course of the training, the BBC programme Panorama heard of the ongoing work and asked to interview the group to hear their views on “10 years after the Agreement.” The programme was televised on Monday 7th April 2008.

This training programme was then followed up by an intensive residential programme which included visits to Derry/Londonderry, the Boyne Valley and Dublin. The heritage element of the residential meant that the group had the opportunity to visit some of the heritage sites which they had studied, such as The Walls of Derry, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall, the Free Derry Museum, the Battle of the Boyne site and Kilmainham Jail.

The second element of this programme was more practical, as the group met with various community representatives from Derry/Londonderry to hear about their work and to share experiences and thoughts on the situations which they are confronted with on a daily basis.

Since then this programme has expanded to include other groups in other areas across Northern Ireland. The work continues to mix elements of site visits and experiential learning with intensive training programmes focusing on issues such as self identity and sectarianism. In each case the content is tailored to suit the needs and wishes of each group, combined with the long term objective that the single identity work will progress into meaningful cross-community work with group from the oppposite community.

The programme promotes reconciliation and combat sectarianism by extending knowledge and understanding of both the groups own cultural heritage and that of other groups. It fosters tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity through understanding of the historical events which has traditionally created divisions on this island and through dialogue with community workers and others who address the legacy of these events tirelessly.

This programme is currently supported by the Anti Sectarian Fund which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland and from the Communuity Relations Council.