'Towards Understanding and Healing' launch

Grass roots work has already taken place with members of the Newpin project, members of Youth Action’s innovative Community Leadership Programme and with users of the Healthy Living Centre in Creggan . This new phase was officially launched in the Junction last week.

Training manager, Eamonn Baker, has spoken of both the challenge and the privilege that arises from being involved in this work: “The challenge is to work with people in respectful ethical ways that actively support them to share their story, when they are ready. The privilege arises from being in the room when participants have decided that they feel safe enough to share their story. The ‘success’ of the work develops from participants beginning to find ways towards healing.”

Over the past few years, Towards Understanding and Healing has developed a series of training resources including a training DVD and manual that are now being used to underpin these sensitive and important processes as we continue to work to build the peace here.

Maureen Hetherington, manager at the Junction, has been the inspirational figure behind Towards Understanding and Healing since its inception, ably supported by a wide ranging management committee comprising community activists, some themselves victim/survivors of the Troubles.

Says Maureen: “This new PEACE 3 funding gives Towards Understanding and Healing important opportunities both to roll out storytelling and dialogue workshops and accredited learning programmes for those who may wish to facilitate story and dialogue with victims and survivors of the Troubles. We have managed to attract facilitator/trainers from both across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties and indeed from England enabling us to schedule programmes and workshops in all of these places. If anyone wants any further information, we’d be delighted to hear from you.”

Contact Maureen Hetherington, Eamonn Baker or Ruth Chibber at the Towards Understanding and Healing office (in the Junction) at 71267519 or email [email protected] “