b'The Giant H.E.R.O.S.kids from diverse communities in Irelandand Northern Irelandgather on the ice.c o m m u n i t i e S c o m i n g t o g e t H e RThe Ireland Funds have been involved with many Ken McQuillan, Brigade Welfare Support Officer forcross-communityandcross-borderprogramsin Northern Ireland, explained, The unique position thatNorthern Ireland. Donors to The Ireland Funds areour personnel find themselves in is that they havefamiliar with various initiatives that bring Catholic and largely gone unnoticed since the Peace Process andProtestant children together including PeacePlayers essentially still live behind the wire with a sense ofInternational, Northern Ireland Childrens Enterprise, marginalization and isolation. So in addition to kidsandCooperationIreland.Inadditiontobringing from Dublin and Belfast neighborhoods, the GiantProtestant and Catholic children together from various H.E.R.O.S program reaches out to these kids from theneighborhoods, the H.E.R.O.S. program has focused barracks and says you are welcome here.on a third and often-forgotten group of children in The Giant H.E.R.O.S. program has come a longNorthern Ireland: the youth living in the local Holywood way in bringing families together from all communities.ArmyBarrackswhoseparentsareBritishEarly on, the program had to convince families thismilitary personnel stationed in Belfast.was something their children could enjoy and get behind because of misplaced fears and misconcep-tions. Today, over 100 children have gone through the program and it has a waiting list of over 200 more whowant to be involved.Everyone shook hands.Weve been coming to Belfast for 4 years and weWe were really good to each other,loveit!Eachyearwehavewatchedtheyoung it was brilliant.people develop real friendships with each other, face Charlotte, age 13 and overcome some big challenges together, andlearnhowtoworkmoreeffectivelywiththeir differences as well as what they have in common. Norm Flynn, H.E.R.O.S. Canada Founder & Director connect2012 | 54'