Northern Ireland Background

PeacePlayers International-Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) uses the game of basketball to address sectarianism and foster mutual respect and tolerance by enabling Catholic and Protestant children ages 10-14 to play the game together. Basketball, unlike traditional sports in Northern Ireland, is not affiliated with either community. By competing together on mixed teams on a regular basis, children from these historically divided groups are discovering common ground and forging new friendships. Prejudices are being overcome by the desires to play, have fun and win.

Since August 2002, PeacePlayers International-Northern Ireland has:

• Coached 17,000 10-14 year old Catholic and Protestant children in integrated settings
  
• Partnered with Ulster Basketball to established new cross-community basketball clubs in Belfast, Claudy, Limavady, Dungannon, Armagh, Cookstown, Craigavon, New Buildings, and Derry/Londonderry
  
• Partnered with the Institute for Conflict Research to assess the twinning curriculum and junior basketball club development
  
• Paired together sixth and seventh grade classes from 100 Catholic and Protestant schools in weekly mixed basketball sessions
  
• Placed 32 American program directors on the ground to administer program activity and develop local leadership
  
• Trained 40 local young adults from both communities to be coaches and youth mentors
  
• Held 10 tournaments involving over 2,000 boys and girls
  
• Become a registered charity in Northern Ireland with a local board of directors and management committee
  
• Enlisted funding from local town councils, the Reconciliation Fund, the Ireland Funds and the UK

Program Activity

PPI-NI has in place a staff of young people from the United States and Northern Ireland who in conjunction with partnership organizations, are:

• Coordinating leagues, tournaments, clinics and other structures that facilitate integrated play and competition among Catholic and Protestant boys and girls
  
• Developing links between Protestant and Catholic Primary schools
  
• Training and employing local coaches
  
• Working with upwards of 7,500 children from across community lines in Dungannon, Derry/Londonderry, Armagh, Cookstown, and Belfast
  

Program activity includes:

• School twinning sessions – weekly sessions in which entire classes of children from neighboring Protestant and Catholic schools play basketball in an integrated, inclusive environment
  
• Single identity school work – in school and after school programs at individual schools which teach basketball and encourage interested students to participate in junior basketball clubs
  
• Junior basketball clubs – structured, safe settings in which boys and girls from both sides of the community practice and play basketball on integrated teams
  
• Secondary school coaching – in school and after school programs that offer teenagers a chance to play basketball and that provide opportunities for students as they graduate from program to continue playing the sport
  
• Tournaments – quarterly events that bring together hundreds of Protestant and Catholic boys and girls to play on mixed teams in a festive atmosphere