Sowing the Seeds of Hope initiative

A unique Northern Ireland based peace building programme, which trains young adults from youth organisations in conflict resolution, peace building and civic leadership, has received a significant financial boost after securing funding from Rotary International.

The Seeds of Hope International Peace Leadership Academy is an initiative which was created through a partnership of six Rotary Clubs stretching from San Antonio in Texas, to Belfast and Derry, to Dublin and Clonmel and to The Hague in The Netherlands.

It was recently confirmed that the programme, which is now backed by over 40 rotary clubs across 12 countries, has been awarded a $158K global grant from Rotary International to fund its work.

Seeds of Hope (SOH) is based in the Corrymeela Community Campus at Ballycastle on the North Antrim coast, an organization which has been working to create a more peaceful Northern Ireland for 60 years.

In the coming year, the Seeds of Hope Academy’s global grant will bring together 30 young adults aged 18-27 from underserved and divided communities in the UK and Ireland. On completion of the programme they will then return home as more confident, impactful leaders of peace, equipped with tools, strategies and mentorship.

Welcoming the new funding, Jack McGuire, a San Antonio Rotarian and driving force behind the programme, said: “This programme exactly answers Rotary’s goals to promote peace through action. What makes this programme special is that people are coming together—not just to talk about peace, but to make it real.”

Ken Nixon of the Rotary Club of Belfast, the project’s host club, said that “Hosting the programme here in Northern Ireland is deeply personal for many of those involved. The Rotary Clubs of Belfast and Dublin, both founded in 1911, collaborated on this global grant, as they have on many other projects over the years.”

“We’ve learned some hard lessons in Northern Ireland. We know that peace and reconciliation require action. SOH teaches young leaders how to have the hard conversations, how to build trust where it’s been broken, and how to stand up and take the lead.”

Mr Nixon and others gave a presentation on Seeds of Hope to the President of Rotary International, Stephanie Urchick, who visited Ireland earlier this month.

Ms Urchick said Rotary’s growing involvement and support for SOH reflected Rotary’s commitment to positive peace.

“Peace is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of justice, reconciliation, opportunity, and inclusion. The collaboration and unity demonstrated by clubs across Ireland, North and South, and internationally, is a testament to the values we hold dear in Rotary connecting and empowering communities for a more peaceful world. This will be a model for reconciliation efforts around the world.”