We've teamed up with PeacePlayers Northern Ireland to support their annual "Game of Three Halves" event. Since 2002, PeacePlayers Northern Ireland has been instrumental in providing an opportunity for Catholic and Protestant youth to form friendships and advocate for reconciliation and shared society. The centuries-old conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland continues to divide communities––creating religious division, prejudice, and sectarianism in virtually every facet of life. Through year-round sports programming, conflict resolution education, and leadership development activities, young leaders actively promote harmony in a historically divided community.

 

Each summer, the organization invites the community to explore culture and identity at the Interface Games, an event that follows the "game of three halves" model. During this week-long camp, young people from all over Belfast come together to play Gaelic football, rugby, and soccer. At the conclusion of the event, they participate in a "fourth half" of interactive community relations workshops led by PeacePlayers facilitators. 

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This internship is all about diving into action––students will be helping out with the day-to-day operations of PeacePlayers, while also collaborating to create an impactful new event for the organization. Through our partnership, interns will lead one day of the camp, during which they'll introduce three traditionally American sports, such as baseball, softball, lacrosse, and/or football, to transcend the community's understanding of peace across borders and cultures. SAA interns will be able to share their unique experiences and expertise by connecting with the local youth through sports programming and transformative "fourth half" discussions. 

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For this year’s program we are looking for outstanding leaders to fill the following roles:

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• 3-6 Sport Experts (baseball, softball, football, lacrosse -- others are welcome!)

• 1-2 Content Creators 

• 1-2 Event Specialists 

• 1-2 Psychologists or Social Workers

 

This intensive program is perfect for students who are looking to make a significant impact through sports diplomacy, but have limited time to travel abroad. Students will need to be available remotely for one week to begin their internship projects and will be on-site in Belfast for two weeks to finalize the details of the event. 

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Our local staff will guide students through the event preparations process and provide on-site support throughout the duration of the program. For students seeking academic credit, we will work with them to meet university requirements. ​​