Our History
RIVERBROOKE CROSS-BORDER INITIATIVE
A Brief History
The Riverbrooke Cross-Border Initiative is an award winning peace project and the work of a partnership that has been in existence for 16 years. The partnership is between Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) Ltd and Brookeborough and District Community Development Association, Co Fermanagh.
Riverstown and Brookeborough have much in common. Both are small rural villages with large agricultural hinterlands. Both villages have been by-passed by main roads. Both communities have also experienced trauma as a direct result of partition and the more recent troubles.
Both development groups have had similar journeys, coming together to support their communities following the difficult years of the 1980’s when community confidence was extremely low. Both groups successfully undertook major capital projects which helped address the needs in their respective communities.
The two development groups originally came together in 1995 through a shared interest in vintage. As they came to know each other they began to explore the possibility of working together and undertook a number of small projects. In 1999 they undertook feasibility study and in 2000 a training project which resulted in the restoration of an old railway carriage which now has pride of place at the Station House, Brookeborough. At this stage they felt their partnership was sufficiently strong to extend the work into their communities.
In 2002 the Riverbrooke partnership successfully applied for funding under the EU Peace II programme. They were awarded €350,000 to engage in cross-border work. The aim of the project is – Rural communities working to break down barriers and build trust and friendship.
The partnerships has grown from a tentative relationship between two groups with a few casual exchanges to a full-time project with a huge programme of activity, employing 3 staff, and in its first three years having almost 600 participants.
Riverbrooke is committed to the ideal of a cross-border, peace project, delivered through a dedicated partnership. The project engaged in a wide range of work – cultural, heritage, art, crafts, training, environmental, vintage, history, inter-schools, youth, women, churches, discussion groups and much more. Groups came together to enjoy shared interests and to engage in challenging and stimulating discussion.
2006 was a year of special celebration for the Riverbrooke Initiative. The project marked ten years of cross-border working by hosting a huge International Peace Conference – ‘Peace in Post Conflict Societies’. With guest speakers from South Africa and the Balkans the conference attracted delegates from all over Ireland. We were also the delighted recipients of an EU award in recognition of our work.
In 2009 the project received funding from the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council under the international Fund for ireland’s Integrating Community Organisations Project. We received funding for two years to continue the work between Riverstown & Brookeborough. The work was to be done under the following headings, * 4-12 y/o children, * teenagers / young adults, * Discussion groups & Residential Workshops, * Cultural Events. The main focus of thses two years was to try to develope a programme that would encourage people out of their comfort zones to begin to address some of the legacies of the past. We have done this through competitions fun days and projects in the Primary Schools. Through Discussion workshops, the making of a 35 minute documentary type dvd, Travel & team building with the youth / young adult groups. Through Discussion Groups looking at topics such as, the role of religion in the troubles, how we form opinions, prejudice, taking ownership for the future of our own lives etc. . Through Cultural activities including church events such as Harvest & Carol services, Attendance at the Fermanagh Orange Parade in July 2010, The Morrison Cultural Music Festival & the Riverstown Vintage Festival.
We were delighted in 2010 to be invited to apply for extension funding, this was approved and we received an additional year bringing the project up to July 2012. In this additional year we have undertaken to do the following Primary schools, one an art competition titled “My Community” and later in the year a project with the 5th Class / P7 Group to explore our communities and develop a webpage to be put on our main Riverbrooke Web Site.
The Youth Group will take part in a number of workshops of relevance to young people, they will complete a community project and develop a web site to help young people with information and contacts on issues such as sectarianism, Racism, Bullying, Drugs, mental health etc as well as a diary of activities in the area that can be carried out for young people. This year also sees the launch of a Cross-Community Youth Club in Brookeborough for 12 – 15 y/o’s.
The Discussion Group will continue their monthly sessions looking at issues affecting life in post cesasefire Ireland, Topics will include, Bands, Marching, Emblems Symbols, how to plan for the future of a community etc. There will also be a Residential Workshop in early Summer 2012. We will also host a one day seminar for groups working in our areas to share the findings of some of our work and explore where we can go in the future.
Under Cultural we will in Dec 2011 be a part of a cross-community carol service in Brookeborough and also try to launch a cultural community day in Brookeborough hopefully in June 2012. Meeting in this regard will begin in Early February 2012.
While we have structured work in our diary we continue to be available to help in any way with groups or individuald with a desire to move forward from the legacy of the past towards a brighter furure.
But always the best recommendation of the work is the feedback we receive from the people who take part in the programme:-
“I am starting to understand”
I saw things, heard things, that I didn’t know
Listened to the stories, felt the pain
Challenged my thinking, changed my opinions
Discussion helps clarify own thinking
Seeing & hearing things from different angles & points of view
I didn’t really understand what it was like to live in NI. I am starting to understand
Useful to develop awareness from different backgrounds
The background of trust give opportunities to meet speakers and express honest views and feelings
Hard to hear but worth listening to
Great to get out of our comfort zones. Self confidence is built facing up to our challenges
The peace process has begun but there is a lot to do…
