Bee Creative Bí Cruthaitheach Partnership Agreement.

Duly signed on behalf of Forbairt Feirste and the World Bee Project Thursday 29ú October 2015 This partnership agreement is signed by Sabiha Rumani Malik, on behalf of the World Bee Project (WBP) and by Gearóid MacSiacais on behalf of Forbairt Feirste. It has the full support of Professor Simon Potts, Co-founder of the World Bee Project and Co-Chair of the UN’s Global Pollination Assessment and Ciarán Magoill Chair of the Quarter Board.

1. The World Bee Project and Gaeltacht Quarter Development Agency Forbairt Feirste hereby agree that they are entering into a formal partnership agreement to address the global threat of bee decline, which has joined global warming, forest destruction, and species extinctions as one of our most urgent ecological challenges. 2. Both partners agree to commit themselves to identifying and developing joint funding and resources for partnership activities. This to include publicity and educational programmes to address this threat to humanity and to address the decline of indigenous languages and cultures which poses a threat to global cultural diversity with a special focus on Gaeilge the indigenous language of .

3. Forbairt Feirste and WBP agree to provide all reasonable resources and technical support as party to this agreement, and to seek funding where necessary and appropriate as a part of this collaborative project. Both partners agree to develop a Gaeltacht Quarter collaborative project, with citywide impact, that addresses education, heritage, culture and environment in view of the contributions bees make to human welfare. And to assist the development of the as a spoken community language and a catalyst for economic, social and cultural advancement.

4. The partners agree, in the first instance, to appoint a project co-ordination manager, accountable to the respective boards of both organisations to scope out with regional and local government and other government and community agencies and with other organisations and groups, as appropriate, how the Gaeltacht Quarter can become the first quarter in to fully commit to addressing bee decline as a challenge to both our islands' food security and well-being as well as a catalyst for turning Belfast into a world leader in terms of being a bee friendly/diversity friendly city. 5. Both partners agree that they will engage in joint publicity initiatives to attract the interest of multiple audiences, to inform them, and to advance levels of ecological knowledge and competence. 6. Both partners agree that they will appoint a co-ordinator to mentor and work with the first ten Sustainability Ambassadors, all students at Coláiste Feirste, who were announced at the Gaeltacht Quarter Recall Conference on September 23rd 2015, to connect them with similar Sustainability Ambassadors across the world to help create an environment which promotes learning, achievement and belonging.

7. The partners agree to take further joint action which can create the context for further ethically sensitive actions which can contribute to the broader structure of society here in Belfast and around the world.

8. The partners agree that their actions will be clear, value-rich and inclusive so as to allow individuals to act in a larger structure of meaning and in ways in which they can better relate to and define each other.

9. The partners through their Bee Creative Bí Cruthaitheach collaboration agree their intention to communicate the value of symbiotic relationships and the galvanising opportunities of collaboration, sharing and optimism.

10. The partners, moreover, announce their resolve to promulgate and reinforce the primary message of efficient and effective Government and Community actions, together with a sense of engagement as a set of multiple journeys involving destinations and - especially - connections. Signed on behalf of the World Bee Project by Sabiha Rumani Malik

……………………………………… Signed on behalf of Forbairt Feirste by Gearóid MacSiacais

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Thursday 29th October 2015

About the partners http://worldbeeproject.org The World Bee Challenge is the first worldwide consultancy to offer comprehensive services to address the global bee decline challenge. With the vision to create prosperity by helping bees, it brings a talented team of professionals from diverse background together to jointly deliver programmes that create sustainable economic growth. http://www.forbairtfeirste.com Forbairt Feirste is a Belfast-Based Irish Language Development Agency, which along with officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, operates a joint secretariat charged with implementing the Big Gaeltacht Action Plan for the development of the Gaeltacht Quarter. Forbairt Feirste seeks to unleash the economic potential of the City’s Irish speaking community to the benefit of all citizens.

Further Information

Forbairt Feirste: [email protected]

World Bee Project: [email protected]