Teach Ban Residential between North West React and Abhaile Aris
Teach Ban Residential between North West React and Abhaile ArisFri, Sat, 8&9th Dec 06
This residential was a culmination of contact and meetings facilitated by Eamon Deane of Holywell Trust between Abhaile Aris and the North West R.E.A.C.T. group in Derry.
The purpose of the meetings were two fold one to help foster better relationships between both groups and two to use this relationship to build better contacts with both communities.
From the outset both groups recognised that not only had our groups a lot in common but also our respective communities, all of us were suffering the same problems in terms of our socio-economic position and our experiences of the last 30 years of conflict.
It was decided that we would share a residential and discuss these areas of commonality. Eamon Deane from Holywell Trust agreed to facilitate it and suggested that we hold the residential in Teach Ban in Downings, which we all agreed to. The date was set for the 8th and 9th Dec.
The aims of the residential were set out as follows:
To begin dialogue between the individuals and groups involved.
To bring the interaction to a deeper level.
To develop a new conversation.
To begin a process which will continue beyond the residential into a long-term programme.
On arrival at Teach Ban we were introduced to each other and sat down for a meal together this was a good icebreaker as we all relaxed around the dinner table taking up conversation with one another.
After dinner we outlined our expectations and fears that we had for the outcome of the residential and I am happy to report that there were more expectations than fears.
We discussed our expectations and fears elaborating on them in more detail and they proved to be very balanced and encouraging for the future.
This was a new venture for us all and the fact that we had brought the process to this stage was encouraging to say the least. Throughout all of our discussions which were varied and wide ranging everyone’s point of view was treated with the utmost respect and validity.
All of our discussions were conducted in the most friendly atmosphere and a lot of this was down to the skills of our facilitators Eamon Deane and Maureen Hetherington who were excellent in keeping the residential focused, not letting us leave any given point until we all understood it. They also encouraged us to be frank but honest and to always try to look at problems from all perspectives.
“Wearing other peoples shoes” was a good example of this. This is where we were encouraged as a group to talk up the other group’s vision of the future and how they would like to be seen by the other community. That ended the first evening engagement between the groups.
On completion of the first session we agreed to go for a social evening together were we carried on our earlier conversations and got to know each other a bit more personally we had a good night and it augured well for the next days engagement.
Our second session began with breakfast glad to say everyone was up and rearing to go.
We re introduced ourselves and set out on the agenda for the day which was as follows:
Context
What is the future the past gives?
Maureen explained to us all that she was bringing into the room in terms of her past and asked us all to view this session in this context. What baggage were we bringing into the room? And how will it impact on our discussions? This I thought was a very good way to start and made us think of not only ourselves but also the other participants in the room. Each of us spoke of our past and our hopes for the future the discussions were frank and honest and we all agreed how individual incidents had shaped and fashioned our perception of the past and how we viewed the other side so to speak.
We then had a bit of a break followed by the Bean Bag game which was quite interesting and is a good trust building exercise very interactive with its success depending on everyone being alert and working together. After this we carried on our discussions based on the need for further dialogue and at what level we wished to take this engagement to.
Later on in the afternoon we sat down and watched a DVD that we at Abhaile Aris commissioned last year entitled Ar Sceal (our story) It relayed the stories of six of our members as told by them. This was part of a project that we at Abhaile Aris carried out last year interviewing over forty of our members about their life experiences as part of our counselling remit and part of “our healing through remembering programme” Which proved to be very successful. The viewing of the DVD had a very profound effect on the members present with very good comments from all who viewed it. The REACT members were very impressed by it and could in their own way relate to a lot of what was said.
After the DVD showing and the ensuing discussions we did one more exercise around the theme: Taking Pride.
· Things we never want said about our community
· For a shared future
· Next steps
The weekend was very beneficial to all who participated and set the tone for future meetings between both groups.
The message I would like to take from the weekend is the determination of all involved that these engagements will grow and that good relationships will evolve from them leading to real and meaningful peace building initiatives in the future, which will be of great mutual benefit to both communities. Holywell Trust has agreed to continue to facilitate our meetings with the next one scheduled for early Jan 07.
Participants: Abhaile Aris, Sean Gallagher, James Frize, Charlie Mc Menamin, Donal Cullen and Gerry Mc Monagle
North West REACT, Raymond Millar, Nigel Gardiner and Jackie Jackson.
Facilitators: Eamon Deane and Maureen Hetherington.