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Vital Voices believes
in the transformative value of women’s participation
in society, particularly in conflict and post conflict
regions. they invest in emerging women
leaders – pioneers of economic, political, and social
advancement in their countries – and build the capabilities,
connections, and credibility these women need to unlock
their potential as catalysts of global progress.
| The Women of Northern Ireland
have helped carry their society through some of the
darkest days. They were the bridge-builders who crossed
the sectarian lines that divided the community and
worked for peace. They are now well positioned to
reach across the world and lend their experiences
to women in other conflict regions. Through this
Vital Voices program they are helping women in the
Middle East while consistently renewing their own
efforts for peace at home in Northern Ireland.” — Ambassador
Elizabeth Frawley Bagley Board Member of The American
Ireland Fund and the Vital Voices Global Partnership. |
Vital
Voices Northern Ireland
Israel
Program 2005:
Building Relationships,
Sharing Best Practices
In
June 2005, with support from The American Ireland Fund
and other partners, Vital Voices and Shatil, a leading
NGO in Israel, brought four Jewish and four Arab women
leaders who work on community building and peacemaking
initiatives to Northern Ireland. The group met with Protestant
and Catholic women counterparts engaged in work to cross
sectarian lines and work for peace. Participants discussed
their own experiences for improving the climate for peace,
exchanged best practices, and visited local Northern Ireland
organizations conducting similar projects. When they returned
home, the participants from Israel engaged in activities
in their communities, applying the principles, ideas and
best practices discussed with the women of Northern Ireland,
while taking advantage of their newly formed networks and
alliances to create a foundation for lasting peace.
Participants
Many women whom Vital Voices has worked with over the years
joined experts in peace and conflict studies, prominent
community leaders, and representatives of local community
organizations in an ongoing dialogue with Vital Voices
and the women of Israel. Through this innovative program,
Protestant and Catholic women from Northern Ireland shared
their practical experiences in peace-making efforts with
Arab and Jewish women of Israel to demonstrate the ways
that the Northern Irish women worked together toward
building a more peaceful society. The Vital Voices Northern
Ireland Executive Committee — Avila Kilmurray,
Director of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland;
Inez McCormack, Chair of the Participation and Rights
Project and first woman (former) President of the Irish
Congress of Trade Unions; and others provided invaluable
insight and expertise to aid the women of Israel in seeking
peace in their own conflict.
The participants selected from
Israel represented a range of religions, ages and organizations – including
young women who train other young women leaders, more experienced
women working on integrated education initiatives, and
human rights and community leaders – but all were
chosen because of their commit to strengthening their communities
and peace efforts.
Monitoring Impact
In September 2005, Alyse Nelson Bloom, Vital Voices Vice
President, traveled to Israel and worked closely with
Shatil to evaluate the impact of the program. They initially
met with the entire group to reflect on the
program 3 months after the training, as well as collectively
look at next steps. Following the reunion of the participants,
Shatil and Vital Voices conducted site visits to each of
the participants’ organizations throughout Israel,
including in Galilee, Nazareth, Haifa and Jerusalem, to
discuss the participants’ specific goals.
The women from Israel expressed great interest in returning
to Northern Ireland and also in hosting a core group
of women from Northern Ireland in Israel, in order to foster
the growth of the network, and hold more in-depth discussions
with their counterparts throughout the country. The goal
is to evolve this work into a longer-term involvement
between Protestant and Catholic women leaders from Northern
Ireland and women leaders of Palestine and Israel.
Noa Zuke, an Israeli participant of the program and Co-Principal
of the Hand in Hand School in Galilee, one of the first
integrated schools for Jewish and Arab
children in Israel, described the profound impact of the
program:
"My work is very challenging;
there are only three integrated schools in Israel.
Many people don't believe what we are doing is right.
In Northern Ireland I met other principals of integrated
schools, we shared our stories and our challenges.
Being there, making that connection with my counter-parts
in Northern Ireland gave me the strength and new
strategies I needed to reinvigorate my work at home.
We face many of the same challenges, but in Northern
Ireland they have overcome many of these challenges
and now have more than fifty integrated schools.
This gives me great hope. We have stayed in touch
and have been sending information back and forth.
They have even visited me in Israel. We are now planning
to collaborate on future educational and cultural
training projects." |
Vital
Voices Northern Ireland Website >
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