PeacePlayers Northern Ireland held its largest Interface Games Camp to date, marking a significant step forward in its mission to bridge divides and promote peace across Northern Ireland. The camp, now a key event for PeacePlayers NI, took place in July 2024 and brought together hundreds of young people from across Northern Ireland, offering a platform for them to engage in sports, dialogue, and shared experiences.
The Community Relations Council support PeacePlayers NI through its Core Funding Scheme.
The Interface Games, which is made possible through generous support provided through the T:BUC Camps programme, aims to celebrate diversity, promote integration and provide a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all. Using basketball, football, rugby, and Gaelic football as tools to build relationships and foster mutual understanding, participants also engaged in team-building and good relations activities that encouraged teamwork, communication, and leadership. By creating these safe spaces for young people to connect across traditional divides, PeacePlayers continues to contribute positively toward a more peaceful and cohesive society.
PeacePlayers were also thrilled to host several VIPs, including Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Fleur Anderson and Junior Ministers Aisling Reilly and Pam Cameron. Throughout their visit, they each spent time taking part in various sports and activities and took the opportunity to talk to young people, coaches and volunteers. Their visit emphasised the importance of initiatives like the Interface Games in promoting long-term peace and reconciliation and highlighted the broader community's commitment to supporting young people in breaking the cycle of division and conflict.
In the upcoming weeks, PeacePlayers Northern Ireland, in conjunction with Good Relations Week 2024, will host its annual Coaches Training in preparation for the programming year ahead. If you are interested in getting involved and maybe becoming a coach with PeacePlayers please contact Paula at pmccurdy@peaceplayers.org or get in contact via PeacePlayers’ various social media channels.
Here’s some posts about the event that appeared on social media:
- https://x.com/NIOgov/status/1819324468692496787
- https://x.com/ExecOfficeNI/status/1816781502258045085
- https://x.com/peaceplayersni/status/1816518334319677878