Three Donegal projects are successful in the latest IFI funding package

Three Donegal projects are set to avail of funding to the tune of €315,883 to provide support for a range of projects in Bundoran, Lifford and Goath Dobhair.

It is part of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) €1,163,263 funding to provide support to a range of projects across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.

The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. It currently supports a total of 23 projects in the southern border counties and 38 projects in Northern Ireland.

This package comes at a fragile time in peace building as political instability and the cost-of-living crisis threaten to cause polarization and further breakdown in community relations.

The funding was announced at the IFI’s recent board meeting in County Fermanagh.

Bundoran Community Development CLG will use €133,751 under Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) for 21 months to deliver the W.A.Y. (Wild Atlantic Youth) Project to support 16 at-risk young people in communities along the South Donegal Atlantic coast and in the South Donegal border area. Participants will have the opportunity to undertake accredited and non-accredited training and receive support to enhance their employability.

Lifford Clonleigh Resource Centre and Include Youth has received €74,941 also under PYDP for the ‘L.E.A.D’ Project for one year. It will work with young people on a cross-community, cross-border basis, living in rural, semi-rural, single-identity and hard-to-reach communities on each side of the East Donegal-West Tyrone border.

Amharclann Ghaelige Ghaoth Dobhair in Gweedore with partner Waterside Theatre Company in Derry will use €107,191 under Communities in Partnership (CiPP) for a one-year cross-border and cross-community creative arts programme, focusing on building meaningful, lasting cross-border relationships and connections between people that share an interest in the creative arts and literature north and south. They plan to perform a play to provide a platform for dialogue about the impact of war on people and communities.

IFI chairman, Raphoe native Paddy Harte welcomed the latest funding package saying this support comes at a critical time and will benefit many communities under their current programmes.

"Peace building work with those who are often hardest to reach has never been more important. Our projects are working tirelessly in a very difficult climate to engage with those who have not felt the benefits of the Peace Process.

"We are committed to delivering cross-community and cross-border outreach, encouraging challenging conversations to deal with the current issues as well as the legacy of The Troubles.

He added how in the past 12 months, the IFI has engaged with over 19,000 people in capacity building, events, and training.

"Through tailored and unique support, 862 young people have achieved accreditations and 125 secured employment. These encouraging outcomes show that it is possible to achieve positive community transformation, but we must continue to build on this for future generations.

“However, the continuing suspension of the NI Executive and the ongoing uncertainty around the NI Protocol are causing polarization and hardening views across some communities in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Unfortunately, this has led to increased mistrust, disillusionment, and the feeling of being left behind with little optimism for the future.

“If we add the cost-of-living crisis into this mix, the stark reality is that many marginalised communities who feel they received little from the Good Friday Agreement remain the most vulnerable and need positive intervention. The current instability has created a large vacuum filled with opportunities for paramilitary groups to exploit and gain prominence.

Mr Harte said the IFI also recognise the importance of offering opportunities for young people who, without this support, would remain more susceptible to paramilitary recruitment or anti-social behaviour.

"We continue to successfully divert young people away from activity that could be detrimental to their future,” he said.