Perceived Needs

Glencree relies on consultation with stakeholders, evaluation of our own and others’ programmes, and research to identify needs which our programme work then addresses. 

Glencree has identified a series of key needs to drive our work:

• To continue to offer residential workshops: numerous project evaluations show the impact of residential workshops on participants is deeper and more lasting than day-events.  The social learning that takes place outside the formal sessions is crucial for forming relationships based on trust.

• To support people in their own communities, especially as it is no longer necessary to leave the community to engage in this type of work.  Evaluations of participants’ experiences have provided much evidence of the importance and necessity for supporting peacebuilding locally, particularly in working with survivors and former combatants.

• To formalise the skills that have been developed in peace and reconciliation work over the past decade or more, and to make these skills transferable through training programmes. 

• To support and implement intercommunity reconciliation work both at a local level in interface areas and at a regional level, with a strong connection between the regional and the local levels.  82% of project promoters from Peace I felt that “the aim of reconciliation is better served by projects with a cross-community component.” (A research study by Area Development Management Ltd and Combat Poverty Agency: “Building on Peace, Supporting Peace and Reconciliation after 2006” (2003))

• To consolidate our efforts in reconciling communities. Much has been achieved in peacebuilding in Ireland, north and south, by organisations and individuals.  After extensive consultation with stakeholders, community activists, political leaders and others, we have identified the need for more cooperation in our efforts.  For example, Glencree is part of a new consortium under EU Peace III funding.  The Donegal Peace Centre at An Teach Ban, the Corrymeela Community, Cooperation Ireland and Glencree have come together to further the process of reconciliation in communities and strengthen the peace in a consortium called Irish Peace Centres. 

• To understand and implement a gendered approach to conflict transformation as part of addressing the lack of women in paid leadership positions, particularly in politics and business, in Ireland, north and south.  Numerous surveys, studies and research papers detail the inequality between men and women in Ireland and worldwide.

• To work with marginalised groups, especially victims groups. Glencree has the skills and ability to help some of these groups to move on with the peace process. Ten years after the Agreement, many victims groups have chosen to engage with reconciliation programmes at Glencree or elsewhere. But there remain groups who have been excluded, or have excluded themselves, from such activities. Glencree now has the experience, the institutional strength, and the expertise to add value to its reconciliation work by focussing its efforts on exactly those victims groups who are still outside mainstream reconciliation activities. Left unaddressed, there is a danger that such marginalised groups could undermine progress towards building a peaceful society. 

• To increase political capacity for peacebuilding, north and south.  There is still a need for politicians in Northern Ireland to bring their parties and their constituencies along in building a shared society.  There is a need in the Republic for politicians to develop co-operative work with politicians from the north, especially from Unionist parties.