A project of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Padraig Pearse Division, Children For Peace in Ireland brings together children from Northern Ireland to help promote peace in the future. The aim of the program, now in its seventh year, is to bring together children in the present to promote peace in Northern Ireland's future. Children For Peace in Ireland brings Catholic and Protestant teens together to live and play and share and connect and experience and learn - about each other, about life, about mutual respect and understanding. The goal is for participants to serve as ambassadors for peace. It is hoped that by learning about each other, as individuals and as people, rather than as Catholics or Protestants, the participating children will find common ground.During their two-week stay in Kansas City, the teens and their accompanying chaparones stay with host families from Notre Dame de Sion and Rockhurst high schools. To promote interaction among the teens, a variety of group activities are held, ranging from team-building exercises, a day at Worlds of Fun and a Royals game to a pool party, boating, and, of course, Fourth of July celebrations. Regardless of the action-packed itinerary, simply boarding the plane to the States is life changing. For many, this marks their first trip abroad as well as their first interaction with those from "the other side".A few dozen compassionate and hard-working Hibernians and hundreds of community supporters make this project possible. The goal is to keep the program contnuing each year. Children For Peace currently has 14 host families, 12 teens, 2 chaperones, and dozens of volunteers and fundraisers Children For Peace is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.
