Foundations for Peace

Foundations for Peace is a network of foundations working in divided societies. It was launched at a meeting convened by the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland from 11 to 14 October. Leaders from five foundations based in areas of conflict wrestled with the unique problems of funding social justice, inclusion and peace-building in divided societies.

People came from the Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust in Sri Lanka, the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation in South Africa, the Abraham Fund in Israel and the Balkan Children and Youth Foundation as well as the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland.

Discussions showed that in divided societies everything is distorted. Words are loaded; politics is partial and discrimination is the norm. Foundations working for peace often have to work in private spaces talking to people who cannot be seen in public together. Foundations have to work on difficult issues, such as prisoners, victims and violence.

All at the meeting said that conflict is a very isolating experience. People find support from one another and see the value of a network to share learning. As one participant put it, ‘This gives me hope, I am not working alone any more. As part of this network I know that there are other community foundations out there who know what it is like to work in a divided society where we take risks with funding.’

Jan Garrill was one of the two Centris facilitators at the meeting. She can be contacted at jangarrill@centris.org