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Dealing with the Past, Shaping the Future

Dealing with the Past, Shaping the Future” is an innovative new PRG project which is funded through the Peace III programme: Priority 1: Reconciling Communities Theme, 1.2: Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past, Strand 3: Securing the Future.

The main focus of this project is to engage with cross border statutory and voluntary organisations and individuals in order to develop programmes that deal with the past and help pave the way for our divided communities to reconcile their differences.

This project will deliver through three main areas: training, family residentials and creating forums for discussion

Our partners in this project are:

  • An Teach Ban
  • Imeall Tra
  • Ex-Prisoners Outreach Project
  • Donegal Youth Service Youthlinks

This project is delievered through three main areas: training, family residentials and creating forums for discussion.

The training element will enable those working in this field, as well as individuals from across Northern Ireland and the border counties to contribute to the debate and participate in a series of accredited training courses. These are:

  • Facilitation Skills
  • Training the Trainers courses
  • Exploring Diversity courses
  • Introduction to Cultural Diversity programmes
  • Citizenship programmes
  • Introduction Intermediate and Advanced Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills

The purpose and design of these courses is to create opportunities for people to meet and talk about how we deal with the past and help shape the future.

Courses are held throughout the year. Watch our News & Events section for the most recent training dates.

The second element is the annual family respite residentials at the Corrymeela Centre in Ballycastle. These are open to families from interface and single identity areas across Derry/Londonderry and Donegal.

      The third and final element will focus on creating space for dialogue forums to look at ways and means of dealing with the past.

 

Some facts about the conflict in Northern Ireland:

  • Every day of the year marks the anniversary of someone’s death as a result of conflict in and about Northern Ireland.
  • 3,720 people were killed as a result of the conflict.
  • Approximately 47,541 people were injured.
  • There were 36,923 shootings.
  • 16,209 bombings were conducted.
  • Between 1969 and 1998, 1,533 of the deaths as a result of the conflict were under the age of 25. 257 of those killed were under the age of 18.
  • The largest age group (25% or 898 people) killed between 1969 and 1998 were those between the ages of 18 and 23.
  • As of 1998, the largest group (54%) of the deaths as a result of the conflict were civilians.
  • As of 1998, the largest group (68%) of those injured were civilian.

 

There have been many attempts, reports and discussions on how we should best address this painful legacy and dealing with the past has remained a difficult issue. This project contributes to this process by:

  • Develop skilled facilitators
  • Offer alternative ways of dealing with conflict
  • Build cross-border relationships
  • Build confidence within and between individuals on a cross-border / cross community dimension

 

This programme is supported by the Peace III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Community Relations Council / Pobal consortium.