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Bishops of Clogher to speak at launch of Building Peace Locally Programme
Bishops of Clogher at launch of Building Peace Locally Programme
A local launch of the Rural Enabler Programme for County Fermanagh took
place on Monday 25 October 2010 at 11am in the Townhall , Enniskillen. The
keynote speakers were Dr. Johnston McMaster, Irish School of Ecumenics,
and the
Bishops of Clogher, Bishop Liam McDaid and Bishop Michael Jackson.
The programme, funded at £2.7 million, is a unique twelve county approach
to supporting rural communities at a local level to identify and tackle the
fears of reconciliation and anti-racism work supported at a regional level
by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD), the Department
of Community, Equality & Rural Affairs (DCE&RA) and Irish Rural Link
(IRL).
Neville Armstrong, Rural Enabler (Fermanagh) says ‘The County Fermanagh
launch of the Rural Enabler Programme will be an opportunity to inform community
groups, in particular, as well as other relevant organisations about the
Rural Enabler Programme. It will also highlight to those attending how we,
as Enablers, can support community groups on the ground and inform groups
about our development grant scheme.’
‘The event took place in the Townhall Enniskillen with keynote
speakers who are committed to finding practical ways to reducing rural sectarianism
in an open transparent way. I know that the Rural Enabler Programme in Fermanagh
will make a huge difference in promoting rural peace building on the ground
while challenging people’s perceptions about spaces and traditions
tied to one section of the community or another.’
Michael Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of RCN, said ‘The launch presents
opportunities for rural communities across the county to develop their skills
in addressing the very real issues of sectarianism and racism which continue
to limit the development of our rural areas.’ Michael continued ‘With
ongoing assistance from Neville, the Rural Enabler Programme provides new
opportunities for rural communities to deal with past division and create
a new inclusive society which is welcoming and encourages everyone to participate,
contribute and benefit.’
The Programme will encourage peace building and social inclusion processes
within a rural context, with a focus on what has and continues to be divisive
rather than on polite avoidance of the difficult issues. It will explore,
in particular, the dimensions of the issues across each of the seven following
themes: Young People; Flags and Emblems; Housing; Interfaces; Racism and
Community Relations; Community Development; and Rural Institutions.
For further information, contact Neville on
07738 449691 or Rural Community Network on 028 8676 6670.