Official account for the International Fund for Ireland. The Fund promotes dialogue and reconciliation between Unionists & Nationalists throughout Ireland.
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
met
@POTUS
in Washington today and took the opportunity to thank
@JoeBiden
for his pivotal role in the establishment of the International Fund for Ireland.
It was a pleasure to introduce
@POTUS
to our Louth Projects last night and allow young people from Dundalk Youth &
@DeeHubArdee
to share their experiences. 25 years on from the GFA, we believe that young people are the key to unlocking the possibilities that the future holds.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte at the unveiling of the new John Hume sculpture in Washington.The artwork is a fitting reminder of a great man who devoted much of his life to community and peace building.
The IFI Chairperson, Paddy Harte has welcomed the commitment by US Congress of $2 million funding for peace programmes in NI and the border counties. The funding, signed into law by the US President, will go towards hard to reach communities most impacted by the Troubles.
The Fund is deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Norman Houston. A talented diplomat that we have been honoured to work with for many years. His enthusiasm and support to promote Northern Ireland will be remembered by all. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.
Our thoughts are with the Hume family today as we mark one year since we lost a remarkable advocate and friend of the IFI and Peace Process. John Hume was instrumental in giving communities hope for the future and his legacy will live on in our peace building work.
Great discussion with Congressman Jim McGovern this morning about the IFIβs peace building work & current programmes through our new Connecting Communities strategy.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to our dear friend and Board member Richard OβRawe. Throughout his life, Ricky was committed to the work of peace and reconciliation. Our thoughts are with Rickyβs wife Alice and family at this difficult time.
Earlier today Taoiseach MicheΓ‘l Martin met with IFI projects in Derry/ Londonderry to learn about community outreach in the city and the positive impact peace building work is having on local residents.
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
was pleased to meet with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
@chhcalling
in London to update him on the important work of the International Fund for Ireland
Today young people from our Personal Youth Development Programme met with
@simoncoveney
. They discussed building cross-community friendships and how IFI projects help increase confidence,trust and offer positive opportunities for local communities.
Today we are launching our new four-year Strategy focusing on how we will support communities across NI and southern border counties
#ConnectingCommunities
Thanks to Ambassador
@DanMulhall
and the
@NI_Bureau
for co-hosting an event to mark the contribution of the IFI at the
@IrelandEmbUSA
. Your continued support for the work of the Fund is greatly appreciated!
Our first panel gets under way examining support initiatives for peace and reconciliation. Sharing the success of the IFI approach alongside other EU models is a key part of the discussion.
#PEACE25
IFI Chairperson Paddy Harte has welcomed the publication, by the British & Irish governments, of a draft deal aimed at restoring power sharing in NI, which recognises the vital work the Fund does to support the most hard-to-reach & marginalised communities in NI & border counties
Over the last year, our Chair
@PaddyHarte
has engaged with a wide range of figures across the political spectrum as well as witnessing directly the difference our projects are making on the ground
The AMBIT delegation, led by
@WIPLive
, found their first day to be rewarding and insightful in equal measure. Sharing the knowledge from those with different experiences really helps build understanding and new perspectives...
#AMBIT24
A very positive visit to Derry/Londonderry with our US/Canadian delegation to view the progress being made in addressing the peace barriers that continue to divide communities in Northern Ireland
We will officially launch our exciting new partnership with
@riofoundation
later today, which will work across the southern border counties and NI, connecting young people & promoting cross-community reconciliation efforts through sport.
From difficult conversations around Peace Wall removal to diverting young people away from paramilitary activity, our projects play a vital role in building communities and peace
#InternationalDayOfPeace
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
welcomed
@SpeakerPelosi
and discussed the ongoing need for the Fund's work across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.
Chairman
@paddyharte
pictured with the Taoiseach to discuss the current priorities and future strategy of the Fund. Thanks to
@LeoVaradkar
for taking the time to meet!
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
reflecting with
@SenatorLeahy
on his very significant personal contribution to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland over four decades. A man rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for.
Yesterday, we spent time with the Bosnia-Herzegovina Ambassador
@Vanja_Filip
in Belfast. He met with projects who shared their peace building experiences and long-term hopes for regeneration around Peace Walls in the city.
Itβs full-time at our
#BeyondTheBall
celebration event with
@FundForIreland
, and what an incredible day it was!
Thanks to everyone who joined us and made the day an extremely special and memorable one for the young people involved!
@rioferdy5
Thanks to
@GroundworkNI
our Peace Walls Projects including Imagine in North Belfast have been encouraging residents to plant their own veg with their very own grow boxes.
#strongertogether
A very positive week of engagement with our Chair
@paddyharte
having the opportunity to share more detail on the good work of the Fund with a number of parties including
@USEnvoyNI
&
@chhcalling
Our βPeace25: Everyday Peacebuildersβ conference championed those working with marginalised communities. The need for everyday peacemakers has never been greater & we must continue to deliver positive change where it matters most to create a shared future.
It's not everyday you have a couple of superstars send you a message! Well done to
@mor_rath
and all of our projects this year for going above and beyond for their local communities. ππ
It was a pleasure to meet with
@USAmbUK
Philip Reeker and
@USAinNI
Consul General Paul Narain today. They heard from
@BLACKMOUNTAINSS
on the positive impact their work on the ground is having in communities whilst recognising there is still much work to be done.
Day one of
#Agreement25
at
@QUBelfast
featured remarkable contributions from the architects of the Good Friday Agreement. It also gave our Chair
@PaddyHarte
the opportunity to catch up and reflect on how the Fund laid the groundwork for agreement. That work continues today...
Today we met with Canadian High Commissioner
@RalphGoodale
to discuss outreach and impact of
@FundforIreland
work with communities in North Belfast. It was good to share experiences and plans for further development supported through our new βConnecting Communitiesβ strategy.
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
met with Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason
@IrelandAmbUSA
at the embassy in Washington D.C. this morning as he begins a series of engagements with partners in the USA this week
We welcome
@joebiden
as the new President of the USA. He is an advocate for peace. We look forward to working together to bring hope, unite the divided and bring prosperity across the island of Ireland.
#InaugurationDay2021
We had the privilege of attending an event at the Peace Tower in Messines, Belgium to reflect on its key role in peacebuilding with special guests and a Donegal CiPP project. As we mark its 25th anniversary, we hope it continues to bring communities together far into the future.
Guest contributors in the latest edition of our Fund Focus newsletter include our Board Members Anne Carr and Avila Kilmurray who share their unique personal experiences of the Good Friday Agreement negotations and beyond
Delighted to join with
@sikevin99
from
@ALLMEP_usa
and Dr
@BonnieWeir
in discussing what lessons can be taken from the IFIβs experience of peacebuilding in the community at
#PeaceCon2019
. Looking forward to continuing the conversation!
An ambitious cross-border project is bringing people together to develop a successful social enterprise capacity building programme that will make border communities more sustainable.
@ComFinanceIrl
@RuralCommNet
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
welcomed the US Delegation to Derry to meet Creggan Enterprises, Northwest Cultural Partnership & BBI Peace Barriers Project where they discussed the importance of communities working together to foster peace & reconciliation with the support of the IFI
The International Fund for Ireland has pledged Β£492,654 to support six groups across Northern Ireland and continue outreach work with marginalised communities
Today's
@BelTel
highlights our latest funding which will support 11 peacebuilding projects across NI and border counties. Our Chair
@Paddyharte
says this comes at a "critical time in our peacebuilding journeyβ.
Alternatives NI's
@Debbie_Watters
explains how women, as
#everydaypeacemakers
, were critical to holding communities together and laying the groundwork for peace:
Last month we welcomed a congressional delegation from the US to see our work first hand and demonstrate how the Fund is helping to heal divisions and bring communities together
Members of our
#AMBIT23
delegation meet with Barbara Stephenson, former US Consul General in Belfast, who was responsible for setting up the original AMBIT programme that still runs today.
Thanks to
@GroundworkNI
our Peace Walls Projects including Imagine in North Belfast have been encouraging residents to plant their own veg with their very own grow boxes.
#strongertogether
Connection and community building lies at the heart of a new cross border creative arts programme with communities in Donegal and Londonderry/Derry combining artistic and creative talents. Find out more here:
Today marks 21 years since the
#GoodFridayAgreement
. We recognise the hard work of all those committed to delivering peace for communities across Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland.
Great to see some of our funded projects involved in today's conference from NI and southern border counties. They are chatting to the audience about their own community experiences in peacebuilding and everyday challenges they face on the ground
#PEACE25
"This anthology of deeply personal stories compiled by the Imagine Project is timely and comes as many communities are beginning to voice bold new opinions on the future of the physical divisions."
#Peacewalls
Yesterday young people involved in a cross-border schools initiative visited a Peace Barriers Project in Belfast. Over 40 pupils from Leitrim and Enniskillen learnt about capacity building in interface areas and explored the history of local communities affected by The Troubles.
Gary and Sean from our PYDP and AMBIT programmes share experiences of supporting marginalised young people yo transform their lives and communities
#PeaceandBeyond
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
opens the latest
#FundFocus
by reflecting on the importance of peacebuilding right now and the challenges still present. Read it here:
Fantastic discussion this afternoon on the critical role women have played in peacebuilding then &now. Building empowerment and resilience has helped females influence and shape how they are viewed and represented today.
#PEACE25
Projects supported by IFI funding are finding innovative ways to come together and support their communities during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
#StayHome
Through our Communities in Partnership Programme, Belfast Unemployed Resource (BURC) and Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) met
@USEnvoyNI
highlighting our cross border, cross community Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools project β inspiring the next generation.
IFI Chairman
@PaddyHarte
visited Washington DC this week to meet with friends of the Fund on Capitol Hill and to thank them for their continued interest and support.
Our work continues to make a direct impact on people's lives across NI and the southern border counties. We're helping build a better future for the next generation of peacebuilders
@humefoundation
#PeaceSummit2023
Our annual AMBIT outreach programme kicks off today in El Paso. First up, delegates will meet with Professor Yolanda Chavez Leyva
@utephistory
to discuss historical context and border identity
#AMBIT23
We send our deepest condolences to The King, The Queen Consort and Royal Family.
Her Majesty was a steadfast supporter of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and we remain grateful for the significant contribution she made to reconciliation efforts on these islands.
The
@SCI_Belfast
have compiled a project looking at how grassroots groups in Northern Ireland responded to the impact of COVID-19. Do read their moving reports here:
We remain grateful to our international donors and supporters who have been invaluable in helping the Fund deliver life-changing grassroots interventions in some of the most bitterly divided communities in Northern Ireland
Our Chair
@PaddyHarte
was pleased to meet the US Congressional Delegation visiting Dublin today. The support of international donors to the Fund since its work began in 1986 has been critical to those communities working for peace & reconciliation across the island of Ireland
During these uncertain times staff checking in on local residents, supplying sanitizer to those in need. Anyone needing essential items collected feel free to contact us on numbers provided.
IFI Chair
@paddyharte
speaking at the launch of the Bogside & Brandywell Initiative's video β βWomen, Words, Wallsβ which documents local womenβs experiences growing up beside interfaces.