About UISCE

UISCE, pronounced "ishka," is an acronym from the Irish word for water, and stands for "Understanding Ireland: Socially, Culturally & Economically."

Our Mission

Starting in 2021, UISCE’s aim is to secure, by 2031, the ongoing engagement of 3.5% of the Northern Irish population in creatively and sensitively exploring the resistances to peacebuilding as resources for transformation.

Erica Chenoweth (Harvard University) analysed 323 nonviolent and violent political campaigns over the past 100 years and showed that when 3.5% of a population is engaged in social change, in a nonviolent manner, they have never failed. Chenoweth’s research also concluded that nonviolent campaigns were twice as likely to succeed as violent campaigns. Erica Chenoweth discusses the effectiveness of the 3.5% peaceful strategy in this TED Talk.

Our Story

UISCE was founded in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation committed to bringing a fresh approach to peacebuilding in Ireland. Our main focus is the development of leaders who can engage creatively and sensitively with the resistances or challenges to peacebuilding. This started with the UISCE Leaders Programme which was launched in Dublin by former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, in summer 2016.

As a not-for-profit company, UISCE focuses on the Irish peace process. Through our community, our programmes and face-to-face meetings with those working to deliver or who do not agree with the peace agreement, we create experiential learning opportunities for participants to develop their understanding of the region’s context, history of conflict and change processes so that participants can creatively and sensitively explore ways to engage with diverse and opposing opinions - and find ways for that to become resources for transformation.

UISCE’s founder, Keith McNair, originally from Ulster, where he attended Campbell College, has lived in each of Ireland’s four provinces. UISCE draws on his experience that stems from the ‘80s when he became involved in delivering cross-border and cross-community programs, focused mainly on young people, education, theology and tourism.

UISCE Director

“The gift is in the challenge”

During the course of delivering educational tours in Ireland to US students, Keith and Jeff Neill, [formerly Northfield Mounthermon School, MA] reflected on how Irish history and the Peace Process connect with contemporary global issues, with a focus on “resistance” to peace. 

From this the UISCE Leaders Programme developed, which built on exploratory Systems work Keith had done through the Grubb Institute, London.  UISCE Leaders was launched in Dublin by former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, in summer 2016. 

International volunteers are at the heart of UISCE’s mission of exploring resistances to peacebuilding. They live on campus and normally work Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 4.30 pm. The work varies quite a bit, and we aim to match it with your skills and interests. In addition to day-to-day work such as cooking, cleaning, repairing and maintaining the centre, work also includes marketing, administration, research, social media and fund-raising; with some volunteers participating in our peacebuilding work. Some lead research that grounds the UISCE Leaders’ programmes and others will prepare exhibitions, help produce our annual journal, or maintain our digital community.  

UISCE Interns focus on one area of UISCE’s operation, such as programme research, marketing, our digital community, or copywriting. Interns are typically undergraduates who receive credit through their university.

The UISCE Scholars Programme is a more specialised or advanced role than UISCE’s Volunteer or Intern programmes. It will be of particular appeal to academics or professionals with a greater understanding degree of issues pertaining to peace-building. Both UISCE Interns & Scholars provide a platform for research-based studies, and to develop a published paper that is distributed to relevant political and community leaders.

Partner Schools

UISCE works mainly with a small number of Prep or Secondary schools, some universities and some professional bodies, with whom we seek to build long term co-operative relationships.  In addition to supporting in their engagement with the peace process, we provide opportunities for students to study and work within our organization. UISCE also can provide Study Abroad Campus facilities for international educational organisations.

Community Engagement

Community engagement and participation is essential to UISCE’s outlook.

Whilst UISCE’s Director hails from a Reformed Chrustian Background, UISCE work with all sorts of organisations and people from all cultures, contexts and creeds that agree to work with UISCE’s aim - “To sensitively and creatively explore the challenges or resistances to peacebuilding”.  We also host exhibitions connected with peace studies and offer a community social hub.

The Intec Centre, our study block, adjacent to The Clinton Centre, offers an extensive conference suite and exhibition space which is available to host group events and exhibitions.

Our Endorsments

  • Bertie Ahern

    FORMER IRISH PRIME MINISTER

    “The UISCE leadership program focus is to provide challenges within individuals and groups to explore leadership, change and resistance”

  • Lord Bew

    MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

    “Keith McNair has been a key figure in promoting cross-border and cross-community understanding, and has a fine record of achievement to his name”

  • John Perry

    FORMER MEMBER OF IRISH PARLIAMENT

    “The UISCE programme in reaching out to emerging young leaders across Ireland, the United States and beyond will contribute to bringing to fruition President Kennedy’s great confidence in Ireland”

  • Susan Ikenberry

    GEORGETOWN DAY SCHOOL

    “UISCE has tremendous potential for those who want to understand not only the history of Ireland in the past 50 years but for students who want to understand any cultural/political conflict”

  • Jeff Neill

    AMERICAN SCHOOL TAIWAN

    "UISCE is a program that I feel will benefit students by developing their own leadership skills and cross-cultural awareness while simultaneously exposing them to real-world problems that they can help resolve. This program stands alone in preparing our youth for a brighter future."

  • Nick Ryan

    GEORGETOWN DAY SCHOOL

    "…The first-hand testimony of active participants to these events, as well as political figures active today, enriched the experience and provided insights into human nature and motivations that are still very much alive in 2015…I also appreciated and I know the students enjoyed the stunning landscapes…In short, this was a remarkable trip and educational experience that will resonate with me and the students for years to come."

Your Support

UISCE is a not-for profit company which means it has no share-holders and does not pay dividends to investors.  All its staff are volunteers, with no-one receiving a salary.

UISCE is independent and receives funding from no “lobbyists”. It relies on donations [goods, services and funds] from individuals, businesses and organisations supportive of its aim.

Having survived the challenges of the pandemic, without receiving any government support, UISCE is working to become operationally self-financing from income it can generates through its services [accommodation, facility hire and programme and professional fees]. Any surplus will be used exclusively to advance UISCE’s aim, .

UISCE’s aim is to creatively and sensitively explores resistances to peacebuilding as resources to help bring about transformation.  If you can help UISCE, please do!  We appreciate all the support we get!