Well I’ve been here for almost five days but it feels like I just arrived. Everyone is getting on fantastically and the thoughts and stories are flowing freely. It’s really been amazing to get so many varied perspectives on peace from both different countries and regions within them. The other guys have excellently covered the things we’ve been getting up to so I’ll try and focus on how I’ve seen things and the themes around peace and reconciliation that have come up.
There is a recurring theme that communication is key to obtaining and maintaining peace. Without communication people forget how similar we all are and divides start to occur between us. This communication isn’t just between governments but between the people of the countries, villages and families of the whole world. This for me is summed up by the quote of Mother Theresa that our Kosovar friends gave to us: “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person”
Another important thing I have learned is how war and conflict is a very personal affair. People in the same conflict will have different experiences of it and react in different ways. It has been eye-opening to hear of people’s personal accounts and to see just how human people can be in peace and the power that forgiveness can have.
On a less sombre note we had a great evening last night with all the represented countries doing a short/long presentation/powerpoint/dance lesson. It was brilliant to learn more about all the other countries, especially from the point of view of those who live there rather than the standard Wikipedia result. We kept ours simple and just sat down and threw pictures into powerpoint that represented Britain to us. The idea was to show everyone how we see the country that we live in. If you want to see it I’ll try and find a way to upload it (probably after the conversations die down at 4AM)
Another highlight was an interview with Lusine from Armenia about her experiences with the YMCA “Roots for Reconciliation” project. I shall let her tell you about it herself:
My highlight so far is definitely the one on one conversations we have in the quiet moments when people can reflect on the talks and films and add in their personal take on it along with relevant stories that have. Anyway, I hope your enjoying our reports in the blog and I look forward to seeing everyone back in England so we can talk about everything we have learnt. Matt :)
Matt your reflections and posts are inciteful, thankyou.
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