The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation is a unique EU funded programme for all of Northern Ireland and the Border Regions of Ireland (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).

Its main aim is to promote reconciliation and help to build a more peaceful and stable society.

This programme was designed to overcome disadvantages in two very different geographical areas - the urban area of the Waterside in Londonderry and rural West Sligo. Both areas have pockets of disproportionately high rates of unemployment. West Sligo also has a very low rate of female participation in the paid workforce - only 29% of women are participating in the workforce. Many unemployed and under-employed people in both areas lack the work skills necessary to compete effectively in today's workforce.

It was also designed to facilitate cross-border communication between participants from the two areas as part of an on-going peace building process which enables people from north and south of the border to get to know each other, build contacts across the border and contribute both to the peace process and to the economic development of the whole of the island of Ireland.

What was the outcome of the project?

Most of the participants had never visited across the border, and had little or no history of interaction with members of the opposite community. From this programme they have built up a relationship with members of the other community some of which are still in contact with each other.

It provided a positive learning experience and gave the group an insight into the life and culture of the other community, changing their perceptions of the other community, building feelings of trust and developing an understanding of the effects of the conflict on people's lives.