Promoting Reconciliation Through Community Relations Work: A Comparison Among Young People in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Vukovar, Croatia.

This study is an attempt to classify community relations work and projects which have been focused in more recent years in promoting peace education, breaking down enemy images, and reducing fear and distrust among young people in Belfast. A description was made of the types of civic organisations, of approaches used, as well as of the sustainability, strength, weakness, opportunities and barriers for peace education through community relations work. A number of in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives of civic organisations in Belfast. Moreover, the methodology involved an analysis of programmes and activities promoted by the community organisations. Findings showed that different strategies and activities have been used by the community organisations, involving relatively small number of participants, and without a developmental plan to follow young people after the termination of project.