Leaving a legacy

While reconciliation on the island of Ireland will be a slow process, extending over decades rather than years, the International Fund for Ireland was never conceived as a permanent funding mechanism. It recognises that current levels of funding cannot be maintained indefinitely. In the period to 2010, the Fund will work to ensure that through its work the activities of key organisations is made sustainable in the longer term.

This involves working to ensure that the lessons, experience and skills acquired over more than 20 years of peace building are handed-on. The key to this will be ensuring that successful programmes and projects are sustained in the longer term.

Economic and social programmes will focus on achieving measurable reconciliation within and between communities. Cross border and cross community programmes will be the hallmark of the Fund’s work. The International Fund will continue to ensure that its support helps to leverage further support for communities from other sources.

The Fund has benefited from international generosity and far-sightedness and can now give something back to the international community by sharing its experience with those facing the challenges of peace-building in other regions. In 2006 the Fund met with delegations from Iraq and Sri Lanka, and we remain committed to ensuring that the experience and expertise of the Fund will be shared as broadly as possible with those who might gain most benefit from it.

Whilst all projects supported by the Fund have the potential to have a long tem impact on their communities, the Leaving a Legacy Programme supports a small number of projects that will make a significant contribution to the long term achievement of the Fund’s objectives. In 2006 four projects received funding under the Leaving a Legacy programme: the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation, Co. Wicklow; Greenhill YMCA, Newcastle, Co. Down; Corrymeela Community, Ballycastle, Co Antrim; Skainos Ltd, Belfast.

For more information on the Leaving a Legacy Programme, please contact the Fund Secretariat:

Northern Ireland:
International Fund for Ireland
PO Box 2000
Belfast BT4 1WD
Telephone: Belfast 9076 8832
Fax: Belfast 9076 3313

Ireland:
International Fund for Ireland
PO Box 2000
Dublin 2
Telephone: Dublin 4780655
Fax: Dublin 4751351