VIEW, Issue six, 2012


Website: viewdigital.org


Page 22


Speeches: Human rights campaigner Albie Sachs (left) and Erik Rudeng, chair of the European Foundation Centre


‘Belfast may not be Paris or Rome but we can deliver a very warm welcome’


VIEW editor Brian Pelan reports on the European Foundation Centre’s conference “One of things we did was to organise five


T


Justice Sachs was a key figure in bringing democracy to South Africa. In 1988, in Maputo, Mozambique, he lost one of his arms when a bomb was placed in his car by South African security agents.


Since his retirement from the South African Constitutional Court in 2009, Justice Sachs has travelled around the world sharing his experiences in healing divided societies. A packed audience at the Presbyterian As-


he conference of the European Foundation Centre, held recently in Northern Ireland for the first time, ended with a powerful talk from Albie Sachs from South Africa.


thematic evenings in different parts of the city – peace and conflict, social enterprise and social economy, children and young people, diversity and community arts. It was an opportunity for all these visiting foundations to see some of the work that they have been supporting. “It would also be great in the fullness of time


sembly Hall in Belfast heard Justice Sachs deliver an emotive account of his own personal journey as an activist in South Africa, and how he saw democracy and rule of law as the most effective way to avenge injustices perpetrated in his country over the course of apartheid and the reconciliation process. He also remarked upon his initial scepticism


regarding foundations and philanthropy, but gradu- ally, through various encounters, soon saw that foundations were giving what they have got to give, namely their independence, willingness to take risks and courage to give a voice to the margin- alised and demonised. His speech was followed by a conversation


between him and Stephan Pittam of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. Earlier in the day I spoke to Martin O'Brien,


senior vice president for programmes at Atlantic Philanthropies, about the significance of the confer- ence being held in Belfast. Mr O’Brien, who was involved with the or-


Foundation for Northern Ireland who “worked very hard to bring the conference to Belfast”. “Belfast might not be Paris or Rome but we


At the launch of the 23rd European Foundation Centre Annual Conference is John R Healy, chairman of Philanthropy Ireland (left), with Avila Kilmurray, di- rector The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, and Jackie Redpath, CEO Greater Shankill Partnership Image: Kelvin Boyes/Presseye.com


dations all around the world, including people from the US, eastern Europe, Mexico, South Africa and Nepal – a very broad range of participants. “What they all had in common was that


ganising committe, said: “The conference normally takes places in places like Paris or Madrid, so we were a bit concerned about whether people would come to Belfast. But we were absolutely delighted with the event.


they are involved in charitable foundations and philanthropy “It's a great thing for Belfast – even in terms of the local economy – to bring such a major con- ference to the city. “We worked very hard to make sure that


there would be an interaction with local commu- nity groups


“We had more than 600 delegates from foun- Mr O'Brien also praised the Community


if some of those foundations who haven't previ- ously invested in Northern Ireland now decided to invest here.”


can deliver a very warm welcome, and we managed to do that.” Avila Kilmurray, director of the Community


Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: “We are proud to have been involved the European Founda- tion Centre annual conference and feel Belfast, and Northern Ireland as a whole, showcased itself to the world as an example of how a city can move from conflict to change.


but all feedback indicates the conference was a real success ,with delegates from all over Europe com- ing to the city and hearing positive stories of peace-building and community development. Erik Rudeng, chair of the European Founda-


tion Centre, and director of Fritt Ord in Norway, said: “There was a great response to the confer- ence with a combination of seriousness and fun. Some of the best qualities from people who live here and who have experienced many tragedies were on display. “Northern Ireland has now achieved greater visibility because of the conference. There is solid ground for co-operative projects with a transna- tional character.”


“It was a hectic schedule and a busy few days,


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