Cross Border Opportunities Project  

 Why Cross-Border?

In recent years, an increasing number of community groups and organisations have been engaging in cross-border activities. The range of funding available, the positive social and political climate and EU policies have all contributed to this increase. However, community groups, schools and individuals have long been involved in cross-border activities when conditions were not as favourable as they currently are.

So, why do community groups wish to undertake cross-border activities?

What benefits are there to be gained from linking with other groups from across the border?

Can cross-border partnerships contribute significantly to peace building ?

What are the concerns of organisations getting involved in cross-border partnerships?

Benefits

• Groups sharing the same interest or from neighbouring areas can benefit from cross-border activities as co-operation leads to a collective response to shared problems. New opportunities and ways of overcoming these common problems can be identified.
• Through engaging in cross-border links and partnerships, community groups can learn and benefit from the experiences of others. By sharing knowledge and experience of previous activities, groups can support and encourage each other. Fresh ideas on tackling issues of common concern can emerge from networking and sharing information with others.
• Cross-border co-operation can promote reconciliation and cultural awareness. In fact, cross-border co-operation is crucial for the promotion of contact, discussion and respect for diversity among the different traditions on both sides of the border
• Community groups can become empowered through cross-border co-operation as working together can enrich people and give new energy to their work. Understanding and vision are broadened through joint activities.
• Cross-border co-operation, where practical and beneficial, can strengthen the local community infrastructure, empower the groups and lead to better quality, more sustainable projects.
• And, probably the most powerful motivation of all, cross-border work can attract funding and support social and economic development in the areas on both sides of the border involved in the partnership.

Peace-building

The concept of Peace-building is difficult. It is not reconciliation nor prevention of conflict; it is not diminishing nor resolving of conflict, but includes all of these.

Peace-building is a deeper process of

• developing the conditions within which conflict can be resolved non-violently,
• constructing a new environment, and
• transforming structures and cultures in ways that support non-violent conflict transformation. (OShea, 2004).

In this context, establishing good relationships between communities that have been separated by the border or by conflict can contribute greatly to peace-building. Relationships are the heart and bloodlines of peace-building. (Lederach, 1997).

It can therefore be argued that all cross-border partnerships, if they exhibit good practice in relationship-building, must contribute to peace-building.

Concerns

It must be realised that cross-border partnerships, as well as having benefits and contributing to peace-building, bring their own difficulties. There are a number of central considerations and principles which any group intending to become involved in a cross-border partnership should consider:

• Groups should be aware of the commitment needed in terms of time, travel, finances and effort in maintaining a link.
• When two or more groups are working together, they must be prepared for changes in plans and objectives as all groups have their own local communities and work to consider. Groups must be flexible and willing to adapt to changes when involved in cross-border work.
• Communication is one of the most important elements in cross-border linkages. Groups involved must keep each other informed of developments in order that the direction and objective of the link is constantly agreed.
• In organising roles and responsibilities, equal responsibility and input in required in order for groups to see the mutual benefit to be gained from equal effort in the linkage. It is important that the groups feel and equal sense of responsibility and ownership of the project so that no side feels a loss of power over the work, or a sense of being taken advantage of.

Groups must work together for the benefit of the link and not for the interest of their group alone. Co-operation means working together.