Invitation to event with Irish and South African students

On June 30th, 2008, from 4:00-6:15 pm in the Intercultural Center, Room 101, The Georgetown M.A. Conflict Resolution Program will be hosting a meeting with 33 Irish and South African students who are participating in the Washington Ireland Program for Service Leadership this summer in Washington, DC (more information on the program is provided below)

The interactive meeting will provide an opportunity for participants in the program to learn more about the conflict resolution field, to share experiences and learn from their counterparts in the US. We are also exploring the possibility of having a moderated debate on a current topic in international affairs.

We would like to invite local students to attend the event. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from like-minded students from South African and Ireland. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by June 24 to Dr. Craig Zelizer, cz52@georgetown.edu

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Dr. Craig Zelizer, Associate Director
Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution
Department of Government
Georgetown University
3240 Prospect Street
Washington, DC 20007
E-mail: cz52@georgetown.edu
Tel. (202) 687-0512
Fax (202) 687-0597
Web: http://conflictresolution.georgetown.edu
http://internationalpeaceandconflict.org



THE WASHINGTON IRELAND PROGRAM (http://www.wiprogram.org/)

The Washington Ireland Program for Service and Leadership (WIP) is a unique US-Ireland nonprofit that is helping to prepare the next generation of leaders for Northern Ireland and Ireland. WIP inspires students from Ireland to lead through public service at home and expands their skills through an intensive eight-week leadership program and an internship in Washington, DC region. WIP recognizes that ending conflict is just the start of building peace. A sustainable peace can only be attained by developing a deeper level of trust among the next generation, and through the WIP program more than 350 young adults have confronted their sectarian divides and formed a lasting partnership for a shared future for Ireland.

In addition, many WIP alums have continued their commitment to community service and have created nonprofit organizations at home. One such initiative is the South African Washington Internship Program, which exported the WIP framework to students from South Africa. During the summer of 2008, 7 South African students join the 26 students from across Ireland to participate in this unique academic, cultural, and community-minded exchange.