THE HUMAN FACE OF CONFLICT (Delivery 5)

Once again epilogues proved its ability to bring folk from disparate backgrounds together and create community. This delivery took place in the Everglades Hotel, Derry with Part A beginning the Wednesday 28th September 2022 and Part B concluding on Sunday 9th October. Thanks on behalf of one and all to staff that looked after us. Thanks also to Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Irish government’s Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund without whose support this delivery could not be possible. 

Some comments and deep reflections from participants (see Perspectives menu for video feedback): 

• “You met people you never though in a million years you’d be in the same room as, never mind talking to and becoming friends with.”
• “I’m taking away from epilogues the absolute need for education, for adults and for children and where I can help with that within my own family and generations to come. “
• “I knew it was going to be an uncomfortable experience but my hope was that it would be worthwhile and facing uncomfortable feelings is important to do in the right way. My expectation was this was going to be a learning opportunity, a way to connect with other people as well, and just explore those uncomfortable feelings within myself.”
• “Some of the difficult challenges is how do you hear the things that you know, that is wrong and what do you do with that, moving forward?”
• “How do you put it together that everybody was hurt and what do you do now without getting caught up in blame?”

This cohort of graduates will join the next three cohorts in 2023 to access what if anything has been the long-term impacts of having completed the epilogues programme. It will be a space to widen and deepen the connections already forged by their participation and to explore possible next steps for each participant as a citizen, be that on an individual or a collective basis going forward.