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PPI - Northern Ireland Makes Headlines in Belfast Telegraph & BBC Radio

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[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-interface-children-play-their-hearts-out-for-peace-at-peaceplayers-flagship-games-31419778.html]

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[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-interface-children-play-their-hearts-out-for-peace-at-peaceplayers-flagship-games-31419778.html]Each summerNorthern Ireland is tainted by heightenedtension as its peoples cope with a contentious marchingseason.For PeacePlayers International \u2013 Northern Ireland, its a time tochallenge sectarianism, prejudice and racism, and build on therelationships formed throughout the year.

In July,PPI hosted its 4th annual Belfast Interface Games - a series of cross-community camps for hundreds of Protestant and Catholic children from some of Northern Ireland's most divided communities. The month-long camps culminated with PPI\u2019s Flagship Tournament[http://blog.peaceplayersintl.org/2015/08/05/peace-rains-down-the-fourth-annual-ppi-ni-flagship-tournament/], which incorporated basketball and the three most popular sports in Northern Ireland -rugby, soccer, and Gaelic football.

Coaches from the Irish Football Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, and Ulster Rugby volunteered, including Ulster Rugby star Robbie Diack who told reporters from theBelfast Telegraph[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-interface-children-play-their-hearts-out-for-peace-at-peaceplayers-flagship-games-31419778.html]: "It's hugely important. To see all the communities together playing all these different sports and having fun and being competitive amongst each other and at the end of the day shaking
each other's hands and enjoying the whole atmosphere is fantastic to see."

[http://blog.peaceplayersintl.org/2015/09/09/protestant-and-catholic-youth-find-friendship-in-northern-ireland/]In August the youth were united again at PPI - NI\u2019s first ever overnight camp[http://blog.peaceplayersintl.org/2015/09/09/protestant-and-catholic-youth-find-friendship-in-northern-ireland/],where for the first time the childrenwere able to sharea room with someone from a different religion.One girl said, \u201cThe bonfires and parades that are celebrated on both sides are all about what happened in the past, we need to think about the
future. We never get a talk about things like that in the outside world, but here at PeacePlayers, we can actually talk about it together, without people judging us.\u201d Her teammates and coaches greeted her with applause!

[https://soundcloud.com/peaceplayers-intl/ppi-ni-on-bbc-evening-extra]Now, the impactof these programsisgetting noticed. PPI was recently included in a report byThe Office of the First and Deputy First Minister[http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/together-building-a-united-community-strategy.pdf]as one of a few organizations commended for best practices in reconciliation, and whose work in Belfasthas begun "to shape the kind of society that we allwant to see, one which ensures that our past is never repeated, and which lays thefoundation for
peace and prosperity for future generations."The results of this report are alreadyinfluencing all levels of government as they begin to implementnew reconciliationstrategiesin Northern Ireland.

Building on the momentum of the summer, PPIrecently resumed its annual twinning program in 32schools (8 more than last year), providing more than 2,400 Catholic and Protestant children with weekly opportunities to play and learn together. To stay up to date with PPI - NI and other PPI programs around the world, follow our Daily Blog[http://blog.peaceplayersintl.org/].

PPI \u2013 NI is supported by Comic Relief, Ireland Funds, Big Lottery (Awards for All), Belfast City Council, the Community Relations Council, Lloyds TSB, The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Meg Roper Trust, the Department for Employment and Learning, and One Small Step. We also receive generous donations from Google, B/E Aerospace, the Study USA Alumni Association and DePauw University.

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