News
KEY Players for Peace
Nicola Armstrong — 22 Sep 2011
Students participating in the Young Enterprise Northern Ireland’s KEY Programme (Knowledge through Enterprise for Youth) today (Wednesday 21st September) lent their support to the global Peace One Day 2011 by participating in a course called “Understanding Diversity Through Sport”.
Run by PeacePlayers International and Northern Ireland’s Open College Network the session explored the potential of sport as a tool to promote diversity and unite communities in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.
A total of 36 students from Downshire School, Carrickfergus, St Columban’s College, Kilkeel, and Finn Valley College, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, took part in the course which was held at KEY’s Belfast camp at Lorne House, Holywood.
The KEY Programme, which is supported by the International Fund for Ireland and operated in partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland, is a cross-community, cross-border initiative that targets 900 young people aged 14-16 years. The Programme brings together schools from different community backgrounds to learn about business and enterprise, as well as developing personal and professional skills, such as communication and teamwork, through enterprise and outdoor activities.
Denis Rooney CBE, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, said: “Sport has often been used as a catalyst to bring people together to strengthen communities and heal division. This interactive session forms part of a programme of activities and workshops that students will participate in as part of the KEY Programme 2011/2012.
“The International Fund for Ireland, with its overriding objective of promoting peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, is committed to supporting and facilitating programmes and initiatives that provide opportunities for young people from different community backgrounds to come together to explore common issues and experiences.”
Carol Fitzsimons, Chief Executive Officer of Young Enterprise Northern Ireland,said: “Today’s session has provided the students with some valuable lessons for life. Effective teamwork is crucial in life, in business and in sport, and it is important that students learn how to work and communicate with peers from different backgrounds as early as possible. These skills, along with the commercial acumen the students will gain during their time on KEY, will help empower them to become future business leaders, no matter which community they originate from.”
Peace Day 2011 and the “One Day, One Goal” campaign is the brainchild of Jeremy Gilley (filmmaker and founder of Peace One Day) and aims to create an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
The initiative calls for a day of ceasefire and non-violence on Peace Day 21 September 2011 – referred to as the “Global Truce”.
Gareth Harper Managing Director of PPI-NI said, “We are delighted to be lending our support to this fantastic initiative. Through our involvement with the Sport for Truce campaign and our work with Young Enterprise Northern Ireland, we are very much looking forward to playing our part in highlighting the 365-day countdown to the Global Truce.”
