Rural Enabler Programme

Rural Community Network

Ali McAllister

Programme Approach

• Partnership approach at Strategic Level

• Partnership approach at county level

• Community Development approach at local level

• Rural defined areas

Practicalities

• 12 County Enablers Northern Ireland & border counties of Ireland

• 1 Institutional Enabler working with Orange Order, Gaelic Athletic Association, Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster, Macra na Feirme, Churches

• 12 County approach

What does it bring to peacebuilding?

• Opportunity to challenge the myths still in place reinforced by single identity communities - separate schooling and housing

• Re-humanise sections of the community who felt they were necessarily insensitive to the ‘other’

Why Cross Border?

• North is ‘wild and dangerous place’

• South is ‘full of Catholic Republicans’

• ‘Are you a Fenian?’

• ‘You Apprentice Boys in the north are accepted, we’re not’

What has been gained?

• Young people have had chance to challenge their own inherited views

• Greater understanding of ‘people’ in both areas

• Going to a new place to learn new things

• Sharing of learning

Challenges & Opportunities

• Influence of those who feel alienated and are not committed to the peace process

• Decade of anniversaries

• Commitment of those engaged in this process on an ongoing basis