The PEACE Programmes Learning Platform Level 1

This project has been designed to develop a positive and inclusive response to the changing face of the city of Belfast. It recognizes the range of new migrant communities and individuals who along with the indigenous communities and established minority ethnic communities make up the population of South Belfast. This project builds on the existing work of South Belfast Roundtable which seeks to meet the aims of the Racial Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland – specifically the elements of participation, dialogue and capacity building. It aims to bring together individuals and communities from a range of religious and ethnic backgrounds to work to break down barriers and promote integration and community cohesion: To run a Belfast Friendship Club which will provide a safe shared cultural space for a range of individuals from diverse backgrounds to meet others, socialise and build strong positive relationships; To hold a South Belfast Inclusion Festival which will bring together local communities, minority ethnic communities and local businesses to work in partnership to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion; To introduce and embed both a local and global sense of interdependence to engender a sense of belonging and common purpose; To challenge and reduce sectarian and racist attitudes and behaviour in South Belfast at a range of levels, individual, community and corporate; To recruit a team of South Belfast volunteers to undertake Habitat for Humanity builds in NI and overseas; To promote volunteering, provide opportunities for those who might feel excluded to participate and engage with wider society and to come into contact with people from other communities thus setting an example to wider society of the contribution that can be made by all members of our society. Level one – Individual level - Belfast Friendship Club: The club will meet informally one evening each week at Common Grounds Café in University Avenue. It will be open to individuals from all communities but will aim to have a particular welcome for newcomers to Belfast and will contribute to the ethos of Belfast as a welcoming city. This will provide a safe shared cultural space to meet others and socialise. It will also provide new space for dialogue, discussion and interaction. Common Ground Café is a not for profit business which gives away all profit to humanitarian projects in the 2/3s world. It aims to think global and act local. The café atmosphere will create a space where newcomers to Belfast can engage with others in a non-threatening environment. The café is situated in the Holyland area of South Belfast and due to the transient nature of the student population who live there is generally viewed as a neutral area. The presence of the project assistant at the club will allow those coming along to be signposted to other services both statutory and voluntary where necessary. Member organisations of the Roundtable will have access to adjoining facilities to hold drop in sessions as appropriate. The club will also allow individuals to engage with other elements of the Roundtables ongoing work such as monthly anti-racism and cultural diversity training events and The Shared History Project. A range of activities will be identified by participants to further engage individuals in social events e.g. walking trips, tours of Belfast, art activities, museum visits. These activities will facilitate direct and prolonged engagement with the different others, providing an opportunity to discover commonalities and differences, developing feelings of trust and ultimately building positive relationships. Those undertaking integration training being developed by Corrymeela.