Systemic Peace Building Northern Ireland

The aim of Systemic Peace Building Northern Ireland, of which TIDES Director Mary Montague is currently chair, is to develop a multi-level and cross-sector engagement in Systemic Peace Building. Systemic Peace Building is a methodology to improve strategic coherence and peace building efforts through enhancing collaboration in strategic design and interventions.

Systemic Peace Building N.I. is a partnership of the following organisations:

·         Belfast Reconciliation Network

·         Charter for Northern Ireland

·         Mediation Northern Ireland

·         North Belfast Parade Forum

·         Northern Ireland Housing Executive

·         Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM)

·         Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)

·         Peace, Action Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR)

·         TIDES Training & Consultancy

Because of the changing demographics within Northern Ireland, our Conflict management training, and our experiences working internationally we recognised a need to develop workshops to promote a better understanding of living in an intercultural society.

Alongside the Multi Cultural Resource Centre TIDES Training developed a programme called Stepping Into Diversity or SID. We designed workshops for: Community Groups, BME (Black, Minority Ethnic) groups, people who have come to NI to live and have been here for a number of years and also those who have recently come to Northern Ireland. We worked with Youth Groups, schools, etc. all with an emphasis on promoting a more equitable diverse society.

The aims of the Stepping Into Diversity programme:

• Look at the effects of Racism.
• Gain information on different cultures.
• Understand our rights & our responsibilities.

A Good Relations and Civic Leadership OCN NI Level II was designed additional to the Stepping into Diversity sessions. This course was designed to give people the skills to:

• Understand the influence of identity.
• Understand the importance of cultural diversity.
• Understand the current legislation on equality.