Women Involved in Community Transformation (WICT)

The WICT Project was delivered by TWN (Lead Partner), Co-Operation Ireland, Foyle Women’s Information Network and Intercomm Ireland, all collectively known as the Women’s Intervention Partnership. This was one of the most successful projects that TWN has been involved with; it was aligned to The Executive Office (TEO) Fresh Start Agreement which set out a commitment to increase the participation and influence of women in community development.

The programme began in 2017 and was delivered in 26 communities across NI.

The first phase focused on developing understanding, knowledge, skills and confidence amongst participants.

The second phase built on those foundations and supported women to follow a chosen pathway to further develop the competency and skills to equip them to contributed to community and political development in their community.

All of the partners were responsible for co-ordinating and delivering project activities for women across the most disadvantaged and disaffected communities within NI. We as partner organisations delivered or engaged experienced facilitators/organisations to deliver on our behalf.

Phase 1 Training Modules were:

·   Personal development (inc health and well-being)

·   Leadership and Mentoring

·   Citizenship

·   Women and peacebuilding

·   Women in the justice system

Phase 2 of the programme contained 5 pathways:

·   Social innovation

·   Community leadership

·   Women in civil society

·   Communication and engagement

·   Co-designed pathways

Our successes are as follows:

·   923 participants in total

·   32 women competed mentoring

·   554 women completed the Asset Based Community Development Training

·   65 women completed Mediation Facilitation and Development

·   464 women achieved ilm Level 2 in Leadership & Team Skills

·   26 conversation with events delivered

The Women In Community Transformation Programme concluded by hosting a Graduation Event on 26th April 2018. The ceremony was held in the Titanic Exhibition Centre. 

Nearly 500

women attended the graduation to celebrate their success of completing this

programme. 

Ian

Snowden, Deputy Secretary for the Department of Communities praised the efforts

of the participants and the hopes for the programmes success in the future:

"This

programme is helping women and the communities where they live and develop a

vision for positive change. It supports the development of influential

relationships for women to build participation in our political structures and

grow civic leadership from the neighbourhood level upwards. "

Ian

Snowden added:

"The

programme has been a giant success. I am certain that the transformational

impact we wish to achieve for our communities through the programme will become

a reality for all participants."

Norma

Shearer, Chief Executive of The Women's Network, commented :

"This

programme has been an amazing success with around 500 women from across

Northern Ireland completing it. These women are the future, and in their hands,

the future is secure."

Unfortunately project was ended by the Minister Deirdre Hargey in 2022 leaving behind a long list of women who could no longer take up the course.