Northern Irish Peacebuilding Program
A two-week summer peacebuilding and leadership program brings together youth from Northern Ireland to the beautiful rural campus of the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont. Ten Protestant and Catholic young people engage in intensive cross-community dialogue sessions led by Northern Irish adult facilitators. They address conflict between their communities at home and issues of common concern.
The program also includes leadership skills workshops, teambuilding activities, global simulations, local field trips, cultural events, a ropes course, canoeing and swimming, sports and lots of informal time to build lasting friendships. The teenage participants build supportive peer and mentor relationships and networks, and plan to participate in follow-up meetings and projects when they return home. Graduates stay in touch via email and reunions and join a global network of youth peacebuilders who are also attending summer programs at SIT, such as youth from Cyprus, Israel, England, and Vermont.
