Launch of Border Links-Border Life Stories Project

An innovative project aimed at fostering cross border relations between communities living in the border areas of Donegal, Derry/Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh has been launched.

The Border Links-Border Life Stories Project’ which will be delivered by Inishowen Development Partnership over the next twelve months aims to provide a platform for contact, dialogue and reconciliation to occur between communities on either side of the border. This year long project supported by the PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council has enabled Inishowen Development Partnership to continue its capacity to develop and deliver groundbreaking and far reaching programmes to people both in Donegal and further afield in Derry/Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh.  Over the last 14 years Inishowen Development Partnership has been instrumental in spearheading both youth and adult initiatives throughout the Inishowen peninsula and in Northern Ireland, and this PEACE III Phase II project allows this successful work to continue.

The Border Links element of the project will provide opportunities for young people to develop cross border and cross community relationships in order to explore their common history and the diverse cultures of those living in the shadow of the border.

Speaking on behalf of Inishowen Development Partnership, Shauna McClenaghan stated ‘This programme we believe will provide our participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become key influencers for change by challenging attitudes and acting as catalysts for reducing levels of sectarianism and racism in their communities. The participants will be exposed to a true history that is common to all sides of the divide and they will explore their own and others identity while addressing prejudice, sectarianism, racism and discrimination.  We believe that projects such as this are an important tool in educating young people about the significant events of our past while simultaneously developing links between communities.’

The Border Life Stories element of the project will provide opportunities for older persons and younger people on a cross border and cross community capacity to share stories of growing up in the shadow of the border using the medium of digital storytelling.  Shauna McClenaghan goes onto state that ‘Border Life Stories will allow us to develop a range of activities which will enable us to collate a diverse range of stories and provide opportunities for sharing of experiences on an intergenerational basis, which ultimately will strive to  promote peace and reconciliation between communities on a cross border, cross community and intergenerational level.’

 

For further information on this project contact:

Catherine McColgan

Project Worker

Inishowen Development Partnership

St. Mary’s Road

Buncrana

Co. Donegal

Tel: (00353) 74 93 62218

catherine@inishowen.ie