The Peace Builders project seeks to develop the scope for migrant and ethnic minority communities to have a meaningful role in Northern Irish peacebuilding work. This is structured through a programme of talks, workshops, and networking events for a cohort of lived-experience leaders from diverse communities. These events enable participants to share their experiences and insights, learn about the history of the Peace Process and the skills involved, and network with activists, peacebuilders, and decision-makers.
The project has four aims:
- Capacity building
- Network development
- Institutional change
- Public awareness
Are you from a migrant or ethnic minority community and interested in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and social justice?
Join the Peace Builders network mailing list to be the first to hear about events and initiatives in this project.
Upcoming Events
Community Dialogue (workshop) – Friday 28 February 2025
11 AM – 1.30 PM | Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, 283 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GG
This event is open to everyone
This workshop offers the opportunity to hold conversations between people from different backgrounds to reduce stereotypes, build relationships, and increase the number of people who are able to speak up respectfully when they hear or see degrading language or behaviour in our communities. Facilitated by Denise Wright with funding from South & East Belfast PCSPs.
Introduction to Governance for Ethnic Minority Community Groups (training) – Wednesday 5 March 2025
6PM – 8.30PM | Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, 283 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GG
This event is for board members of ethnic minority community groups
This workshop will provide an introductory overview of governance for new board members, and a knowledge refresh for longer-term board members. The workshop is facilitated by Denise Wright who has a BSc in Community Development and over 30 years’ experience of both managing and being on the board of a range of community voluntary groups.
Migrant Women & Peacebuilding: Uniting for Equality & Human Rights (workshop) – Friday 21 March 2025
1PM – 3.30PM | Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, 283 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 3GG
This event is only for women with lived experience from migrant and/or ethnic minority communities
Reflecting this year’s IWD theme of ‘Solidarity Beyond Borders – Women for World Peace’, this event will explore the role which migrant and ethnic minority women play in peacebuilding with a workshop (facilitated by Women’s Platform) and group discussion. This will be followed by a screening of the short film Women, Peace and Power (Peace is Loud, 2019), which explores the ways women can drive change as peacebuilders through three case studies: Northern Ireland, Liberia and Afghanistan.
Past Events
Colours of Peace: Moving Beyond Orange & Green (seminar) – Tuesday 18 June 2024
The Peace Builders project launched in Belfast Castle with Colours of Peace, the first of a series of quarterly peacebuilding seminars for participants from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds. The day included presentations from Avila Kilmurray (Social Change Initiative), Dr David Mitchell (Trinity College Dublin), and Ricky Irwin (TEO Race Equality Unit), a Mediation NI workshop on handling conflict, and breakout group dialogues on a range of themes.
Exploring Conflict Legacies: Shared Space & Contested Memory in Derry/Londonderry (day trip) – Tuesday 10 September 2024
Participants in the Peace Builders project visited Derry/Londonderry to explore different perspectives on conflict legacies, peacebuilding, and the constitutional future. The trip included presentations and tours at The New Gate Arts & Culture Centre, The Siege Museum, and The Museum of Free Derry.
Globalising Peace in Northern Ireland (seminar) – Wednesday 25 September 2024
The second quarterly seminar for the Peace Builders project took place in St Columb’s Park House, Derry/Londonderry. Participants from the North West and beyond attended to explore the theme of Globalising Peace in Northern Ireland. The seminar included presentations from Dr Khanyisela Moyo and Professor Paul Arthur, a powerful conflict transformation workshop from Theatre of Witness, and group dialogues on challenges and opportunities for peace.
Community Dialogue (workshop) – Friday 18 October 2024
This workshop offered the opportunity to hold conversations between people from different backgrounds to reduce stereotypes, build relationships, and increase the number of people who are able to speak up respectfully when they hear or see degrading language or behaviour in our communities. Facilitated by Denise Wright with funding from South & East Belfast PCSPs.
Belfast Peace Trail (walking tour) – Saturday 19 October 2024
This walking tour was designed and guided by local peace activist Rob Fairmichael. The Peace Trail took us around Belfast City Centre and the Ormeau Road, covering the city’s political and cultural background as well as sites specifically relevant to peace and inclusion. The walk took an hour and a half, and was followed by lunch and discussion in Ballynafeigh Community Development Association.
Assembly Explained (workshop) – Wednesday 6 November 2024
The Assembly Explained workshop was delivered by the NI Assembly Engagement Team at Stormont Parliament Building. The interactive workshop covered how the Assembly works, how to get involved, and how to raise issues with political representatives to have your voice heard. The event included a tour of Stormont Parliament Buildings.
PSNI Race & Ethnicity Action Plan 2025 – 2027 (consultation event) – Tuesday 3 December 2024
As part of the consultation period for the PSNI’s Race & Ethnicity Action Plan 2025 – 2027, this event provided a forum for members of migrant and minority ethnic communities to engage with, scrutinise, and shape the future direction of the Police Service and its relationship with diverse communities.
Read more about the Race & Ethnicity Action Plan here
Human Rights & Faith Communities (panel discussion) – Tuesday 10 December 2024
Migrant Centre NI and the NI Inter-Faith Forum partnered to mark World Human Rights Day with a timely panel discussion about “Human Rights & Faith Communities: Protecting Freedom of Religion and Belief, Present and Future”. The keynote address was delivered by Professor Colin Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law at Queen’s University Belfast, followed by panel responses from Dr Naomi Green and Rabbi David Kale. The speakers and audience participated in a thought-provoking discussion on faith communities and their place within human rights and constitutional conversations.
Community Responses to Conflict, Culture & Change: Exploring Peace & Diversity in Portadown (seminar) – Wednesday 22 January 2025
Attendees participated in an interactive workshop exploring approaches to conflict resolution, facilitated by Rob Fairmichael and Stefania Gualberti from the Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education. After lunch, we heard fascinating presentations on the symbolic conflict surrounding parades in Portadown (Professor Dominic Bryan) and the experience of the Vietnamese refugees who were settled in Craigavon in the 1970s and 1980s (Dr Jack Crangle).
Visit to NI War Memorial (museum tour) – Saturday 1 February 2025
This guided tour of the War Memorial Museum explored the story of how Northern Ireland was affected by and contributed to the Second World War, covering topics such as the Belfast Blitz, the American forces, the Ulster Home Guard, industry, and the role of women during the war.
NI Assembly Good Relations Action Plan 2025-30 (consultation event) – Friday 7 February 2025
Participants heard from the NI Assembly’s Equality and Good Relations Unit about the Assembly Commission’s Good Relations Action Plan 2025-2030, which sets out priorities in promoting Good Relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. The presentation was followed by Q+A, feedback, and discussion about the Action Plan and the role of the Assembly.
Read more about the Good Relations Action Plan here
For more information please contact the Project Officer julia@migrantcentreni.org
This project is funded by The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
