Skip Navigation Links
Home
Northern IrelandExpand Northern Ireland
South AfricaExpand South Africa
Middle EastExpand Middle East
CyprusExpand Cyprus
New OrleansExpand New Orleans
SupportExpand Support
MediaExpand Media
About UsExpand About Us
Contact

PEACEPLAYERS INTERNATIONAL – NORTHERN IRELAND

International – Northern Ireland (PPI – NI) is an independently registered cross-community peacebuilding charity in Northern Ireland (Ref: XR74498) that uses sport – in particular, basketball – to unite and educate young people from Protestant and Catholic communities.

By regularly competing together on mixed teams, children from these historically divided groups discover common ground and forge new friendships, while a mix of local and international facilitators help them adjust to the complexities that accompany growing up in a post-conflict society.

In its last programmatic year, PPI – NI worked with roughly 900 participants, while providing services to eight of the ten most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland according to the Northern Ireland Statistic and Research Agency.

Core Programs

PPI – NI’s programs include:
  • Primary School Twinnings – Entire classes of children in grades 5 and 6 (ages 8-11) from neighboring Protest and Catholic primary schools come together for basketball and community relations sessions in mixed groups. PPI – NI works with 14 (soon to be 16) schools in all. Beginning in Fall 2010, PPI – NI will also begin work with grade 4 students (ages 7-8).
  • Enhancing Diversity Through Sport/Community Centre League – Children of all backgrounds ages 9-17 from community centres, clubs, churches and other youth groups come together for integrated basketball and community relations discussions in strategically located community centres. Activities occur in a structured, fun, and inclusive environment after school and on weekends. PPI – NI currently works in seven community centres in Belfast.
  • Leadership Development Programme – In partnership with the International Fund for Ireland, PPI – NI recruits 16-25 year-old young people with outstanding leadership potential for year-round leadership, life skills and community relations training, anchored by monthly workshops and quarterly residential retreats.
  • Developing Integrated Sports Clubs (DISC) – DISC aims to cultivate sustainable integrated multi-sport clubs in Northern Ireland. As a first step, PPI – NI has developed three Open College Network-accredited courses to help capacitate other sports organizations for community relations and peacebuilding work.