Lyla and her team in supporting PeacePlayers

Hi, my name is Lyla and in May, the international non-profit organization PeacePlayers will host a seventh team of 16 DePauw University students, including myself, in Belfast, Northern Ireland to assist them in their work to bridge the continuing divide between Catholic/Nationalist and Protestant/Loyalist communities. Once again, we are inviting our friends, family, and networks to join us in our support of the work of PeacePlayers.

While in Belfast, our DePauw Tiger Belfast Team will help with both in-school and after school programming, as well as the culminating event of the year for PP-NI, Summer Jam. To insure our team is as successful as possible, PeacePlayers staff and coaches contribute their time contextualizing the division, teaching peace-building methodologies, and socializing with the team. It is a beneficial relationship for both partners, made even better through our fundraising efforts.

Over the years we have directed your support to producing Summer Jam. Funds have supported transportation for participants to this all-day basketball “party and helped to purchase tournament t-shirts (featuring the DePauw logo), basketballs, portable scoreboards, coaching whiteboards, and more. This year it is again our plan to use the money we raise to support this rewarding -and significantly expanding - event.

We are excited about the opportunity to learn about life in this post-conflict society and aid in PP-NI’s efforts to move the two communities closer to reconciliation. It is a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you for any and all support you can give to this very worthy cause.