About Seeds of Hope
A year-long programme nurturing peace growers in Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland and UK. We bring together young adults from different traditions to build relationships, skills, and confidence—with the aim of them carrying out what they have learned into the world.
Our Mission
Seeds of Hope develops young peace growers through experiential learning, intergenerational dialogue, and residential community experiences.
Programme Goals
- Deepen understanding of self, relationships, and society
- Build lasting relationships across traditional divides
- Connect with older and younger generations of peacebuilders
- Develop confidence to take action in communities
- Become 'Everyday Peacebuilders'
Our Students
Young adults already active in their communities, coming together to grow as peace leaders.
The Programme
A year-long immersive course grounded in Rotary's Positive Peace principles and Corrymeela's Peace Ethos. Monthly sessions, three residential residentials, and ongoing mentorship.
Trusting Relationships
Building trust across difference. Understanding how our backgrounds shape how we see others.
Conflict-Affected Societies
Case studies including the Good Friday Agreement, with input from those who negotiated it.
Dynamics of Hope
Equity, diversity, interdependence, and non-violence. Moving from understanding to action.
The Residential Experience
Five times a year, participants gather at Corrymeela's Ballycastle centre for intensive three-day residentials. It's here the programme comes alive—learning from grass roots peacebuilders and academics around the world, sharing meals, and forming bonds that last.
Participants also meet in between residentials for day sessions which are aimed around teambuilding, relationship forming and immersive learning in some of the most impacted areas in Northern Ireland from the Troubles.
A distinctive feature is transgenerational learning. Participants hear directly from people who lived through the Troubles, including members of the Women's Coalition who negotiated the Good Friday Agreement.
This offers a unique opportunity for those involved to use old lessons to inform contemporary issues.
Why Northern Ireland?
Twenty-five years after the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland remains divided. Peace walls still separate neighbourhoods. Only 8% of children attend integrated schools. Most young people grow up with limited contact across traditional divides.
But Northern Ireland has also developed world-class expertise in peacebuilding—precisely because it had to. That expertise is what we share with the next generation and hopefully from that hope has room to grow.
"To have hope is not to be naive. Rather, it is to have a vision or a belief that people could choose to live in new ways beyond distrust, enmity, and violence. Hope is the thread uniting daily actions of embracing, including, welcoming and holding one another as different people sharing one space, one town, one society, one world. It is to know that our hope-filled small acts accumulate and are linked with many other people who have dared, currently dare, and in the future will still dare to be hope-filled. May we dare to hope, every day." Derick Wilson, 1947 - 2024
The Corrymeela Community
Established in 1965, Corrymeela is Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organisation. For 60 years, we've brought people together across divides through genuine encounter—sharing stories, meals, and experiences.
Peacebuilding isn't a career—it's a way of being. We're nurturing citizens who understand peace is everyone's responsibility.
Our Partners
Seeds of Hope is made possible through Rotary International, with 40+ clubs across 12 countries contributing—including a landmark $158,000 Global Grant.
We, Corrymeela, as hosts and programmatic lead work alongside other leading peace organisations (Understanding Conflict Trust, TIDES, Mediation NI), delivery partners (Youth Link, Youth Action, Youth Work Ireland Louth), and academic institutions (Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin, Notre Dame's Kroc Institute).
Our Story
From concept to impact
The Seed is Planted
San Antonio Rotary and Understanding Conflict Trust begin collaboration.
First Connections
Eight Rotary Student Fellows visit Northern Ireland.
Pilot Year
First cohort of 15 participants launches.
Global Grant
$158,000 Rotary grant enables expansion.
Growing Strong
30 participants with enhanced partnerships.
Our Goal
144 peace growers across Northern Ireland.