Washington Ireland Program for Service and Leadership

Leadership Development
WIP aims to become the preeminent organization for developing leaderships skills in Northern Ireland and Ireland by working with emerging leaders who share, and are acting in line with, our values, from all communities across the Island.

Alumni Network
WIP aims to create a strong community of alumni from across Northern Ireland and Ireland by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth as well as public discourse. There are currently over 700 alumni from WIP’s twenty four year history, and they are excelling in roles across the political, business, legal, entrepreneurial, advocacy, and cultural sectors on the island.

Public Debate
WIP strongly believes in the benefit of facilitating public discourse that provokes and informs debate in Northern Ireland and Ireland in a way that promotes peace and prosperity. WIP plans to host a series of Town Hall events as well as a 25th Anniversary conference within the next six to nine months.

Private Discussion
As an organization, WIP plans to continue to facilitate private and reasoned negotiations and discussions focusing on the most difficult issues that are facing Northern Ireland and Ireland. WIP plans to involve alumni, prospective/current students, and supporters of the program for these discussions in an effort to create understanding between parties of different backgrounds and beliefs.

WIP in the US
With the expansion of the current summer program to now include a group of students spending the full eight weeks in New York City, WIP plans to further strengthen bonds with US partners and expand the current network to include work placements and community partners from different demographics and areas.

Community Service
WIP prides itself on its commitment to public service on the island and in the US and aims to have students volunteering 2700 hours of time as part of a substantial service project upon return from the US as well as continuing to partner with alumni that are involved with community organizations on the island.

Leadership Development
WIP provides many opportunities for members of the program as well as alumni to further develop their personal and professional skills. During the summer program, students are exposed to some of the best and brightest minds in DC and NY, they participate in discussions on some of the most difficult issues facing Northern Ireland and Ireland, and they work together in groups to come to a shared understanding of what the future of the island will look like. Their ideas for the future are then presented at a conference event following their return home.

Alumni Network
WIP continues to provide opportunities for alumni to convene and engage with each other and with community partners. WIP aims to create a community of alumni that are actively involved in community projects that reflect the values of the organization by providing support where possible and creating opportunities for alumni to run volunteering activities over the course of the year.

Public Debate
WIP has secured funding to host a series of Town Hall events in 2019 done in the style of the Arizona Town Halls in which a group of participants will convene to come to a shared understanding on key issues facing the island of Ireland. WIP will also be commissioning a poll to get a broader understanding of what young people truly feel are the most important issues facing the island. The ideas shared from the Class of 2018 WIP papers, the poll, and the Town Hall events will then be used in discussion at the 25th Anniversary Conference to be held July 2019.

Private Debate
WIP holds strong connections to some of the preeminent leaders of the political, advocacy, and business sectors both in the US and on the island. Using these connections, WIP is able to provide opportunities for students, alumni, and supporters of the organization to sit down with these leaders and discuss the most difficult issues that are facing Northern Ireland, Ireland, and the US.

WIP in the US
WIP aims to continue the expansion of the New York program by securing funding to host more students in New York in order to provide opportunities to work in different sectors such as cyber security, law, and technology firms. WIP will use existing relationships and a strong outreach program to help build the New York community and continue to support the program in DC.

Community Service
WIP plans to continue its commitment to community service by partnering with twelve community partners in Northern Ireland and Ireland, partnering with community organizations in DC and NY, and facilitating alumni engagement with volunteer events.

The Washington Ireland Program actively engages a community of alumni, host families, work placements, donors, and champions of the organization to continue its work. WIP is able to support students from all economic and social backgrounds due to generous support from donors and corporate partners.

Supporters of the organization know that WIP aims to select the students that will become future leaders in their sector of choice, including business, technology, medicine, media, and the arts.

With support from the Department of Foreign Affairs, WIP has already secured funding to host a series of Town Halls as well as a large scale conference in 2019 to discuss the most pressing issues facing Northern Ireland and Ireland today.

Alumni of the Washington Ireland Program have gone on to lead advocacy groups, political parties, media/technology companies, and many other organizations. Some alumni of particular note include Claire Sugden MLA (Class of 2010, MT in 2012), Emma Little-Pengelly who was elected to a seat at Westminster (WIP Class of 2002), and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (WIP Class of 2000).

Alumni have also been involved with Cooperation Ireland’s young leaders mentoring program, Belfast Interface Project’s cross community work, Hackathons led by the US Embassy Dublin, an intensive training weekend with the ‘All Ireland Scholars’, as well as many others. Efforts from these volunteering events have created the opportunity to discuss what the future of the island looks like in the communities that are most affected.

With the expansion of WIP’s core program to now include a segment of students spending the summer in New York, there is tremendous opportunity for new experiences and learning from new sources to further the goals of the organization.