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The aim of the Network for Peace in Co Louth
is to support and embed the development of peace building leadership
across the county. To date it has involved the establishment of a
community-led network, one which is evolving and which serves the county
and its cross border hinterland. The Network for Peace is aiming to
serve as a centralised point for networking resources for peace building
in the county and on a cross border basis.
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To date the Network has met on a number of occasions and has agreed on the following:
Key Guiding Principles which will underpin the work of the Network
- Keeping the networking for peace function simple;
- Allowing it to evolve rather than setting up a formal structure from the outset;
- Being primarily focused on peace building - acknowledging the importance of social inclusion and community development; as well as the wider environment and the importance of peace in how it affects life in general;
- Starting out on this work with ‘where people are at and where their interests lie’ – by approaching it this way through adopting 'a community of practice’ approach - it will mean that people will see and realise its value;
- Having a cross border element, given how close the county is to the North; and an inter-county aspect so as to realise benefits and learning along the southern border region; and
- Making sure that people from the local area including people who have been displaced from the North/Northern Ireland; ethnic minority communities; minority faith communities; politically motivated ex-prisoners; women, young people; and institutions feel part of this networking movement for peace.
Role/Function of Network for Peace
- Learning and sharing role - sharing experiences and learning - a place where people and organisations interested in peace building can share their own learning as well hearing good practice from within the county and from elsewhere;
- A place for ideas generation;
- Information Function - where people can get information on anything to do with peace building – website will be useful in this regard – research in the county and elsewhere, opportunities for connections with others – e.g. cross border partners, diary of events so as to provide information on what’s on as well as helping to avoid clashes of events;
- Support function - where people can get support – e.g. understanding application processes and follow up;
- Challenge function - where people can be inspired about peace building – e.g. speakers, visits, seminar type events; and where they can have space to discuss issues to do with peace building as it affects Co Louth as well as talk about issues which they want to know more about.
Structure of Networking for Peace
- At this stage there is no need to establish a formal network for peace. It is better to allow this to evlolve and in the meantime be facilitated in preparation for the next stage of the Peace III Programme when the Network for Peace can be enabled to grow.
- It is however important that this networking function feeds into the already existing structures within the county and especially the Peace and Reconciliation Partnership as well as the County Development Board and its associated committees;
- It is important that the Networking for Peace is a useful structure, one which is not burdensome to people/organisations which are already very busy with their own work. Here the significance of having a structure which adds value and supports people in their peace building work is critical.
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