A campaign to reduce tension and street violence among Belfast youth begins today.
The EU-funded programme, entitled "Interfaces and Peacelines", will target low-income communities without resources to keep children occupied. Boredom often leads to low-level violence and more serious incidents.
Ms Deirdre MacBride, chief executive of the Belfast European Partnership Board, which administers the funding on behalf of the EU Peace Programme, said she welcomed the involvement of community groups in the programme.
"Spearheaded by community leaders familiar with the risks when young people become involved in low level violence at peacelines, `Interfaces and Peacelines' aims to intervene early enough in the right places to avoid violence spiralling out of control," she added.
The board will announce funding for another two projects today. Challenge for Youth will target 2,500 young people through programmes of personal development, using the arts, community relations, youth achievement awards and outdoor education. It will receive £193,000 from the EU Peace programme.
Another project, aimed at improving community relations in inner east Belfast, will receive £74,000. It hopes to deliver programmes to develop leadership at a local level and encourage community involvement.
The Head of the European Commission Representation in Northern Ireland, Mr Jim Dougal, said allowing young people to understand themselves and their communities was crucial for the future of the peace process.