Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme now recruiting

Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme 2008©

The Northern Ireland Community Builders Programme, designed by Frank Costello Associates, is aimed at community workers in locally based community organizations working on the ground building peace and stability in their communities in Northern Ireland.

Recruitment is now underway for the 10 April to 10 May 2008 external programme in New York and all related components.

The programme will involve community workers and other partners including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Probation Board of NI, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. It is designed to provide a stimulating learning experience that combines both a period of specialised study at Columbia University and hands on practice in a relevant placement in New York City. This tailor made learning programme will allow for practical exposure to issues at the centre of civil society – ie community development and community relations, gender and ethnic diversity and inter-sectoral co-operation through practical partnership working, with a view to building a greater understanding of the role that each has to play in building a more peaceful society.

Applicants to the Northern Ireland CommunityBuilders Programme must be able to demonstrate:

• How they can make a difference to building the learning capacity of their community
• That they are in fact an active community worker at grass roots in a community organization and have the demonstrated support of a line manager to participate in the programme.
• How they can follow through in a meaningful way upon their return to Northern Ireland
• A commitment to fully engage in a long term process with previous participants
• The commitment of their respective organisation to support their participation on the programme in the long-term and to engage in a subsequent body of work

For a full information package and application form please contact Stafford Reynolds on 078 0294 0407 or nicbprogramme@yahoo.com

Application deadline is 3.00pm on 24 January 2008.

The success of this programme depends on the diversity of the participants and so applications are invited from all sections of the community, including women and members of ethnic minority communities. Applications are particularly encouraged from those working in interface areas at ground level.

Please note: A number of Belfast based places on this programme will be supported by the Peace II funding via Belfast Local Strategy Partnership in partnership with Queens University Belfast. This project is part financed by the European Union through the Peace II Programme implemented by the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership.