International Fund for Ireland project worked with 45 young people from Louth, Down and Armagh

Forty-five young people from both sides of the border gathered in Dundalk recently to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing their generation as part of an International Fund for Ireland (IFI) project which focused on building positive relationships and engagement among young people from cross-border communities in Louth, Down and Armagh.

The Cross- Border Youth Conference was the final element of an 18-month long project working with young people from Drogheda, Dundalk, Ardee, Newry, Warrenpoint and Crossmaglen.

The day-long event involved group discussions with participants sharing personal experiences of life in a cross-border community. Attendees also discussed ways to overcome barriers, break down stigma, tackle inequality, as well as ways to capitalise on opportunities to foster positive relationships through cross-border community engagement.

The project was delivered in partnership between Louth Comhairle na nÓg, Dundalk Youth Centre, Newry and Mourne Youth Council and the Education Authority Northern Ireland. It was supported under the IFI Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) which aims to build progressive partnerships that will deliver meaningful benefit for communities on both sides of the border, raise awareness of the issues and challenges while also contributing to the wider peacebuilding work of the IFI.

As part of the overall project nine dialogue events and 15 community meetings were held with a focus on building stronger links across border communities. A series of films were also produced, showcasing the stories and experiences of young people from both sides of the border.

Participants also engaged directly with local political representatives from Louth, Newry and Mourne, raising issues of importance with representatives while participants also had the opportunity to visit both Dáil Éireann and Stormont.

Paddy Harte, Chair of the International Fund for Ireland said,

“The Cross-Border Youth Conference has provided young people with a wonderful forum through which to share their insights and ideas on how best to develop a better future, and through informed, engaged discussion, the best ways by which to capitalise on the opportunities that exist for young people both North and South of the Border.

 “The project, funded under our Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) has gone a considerable way to fostering meaningful engagement between young people from across the participating communities. It has also provided participants with the knowledge and skills to be agents for change and to influence the type of future they wish to create.”