Young People Forge International Pathways to Peace

On Monday 26^th July the charity set up in the aftermath of a terrorist bombing will host young people from England, Israel, Palestine, Ireland and the Basque region of Spain.

The group of 35 students will be taking part in an international youth programme run by The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. The Foundation was set up after the 1993 IRA bombing of Warrington which killed 12-year old Tim Parry and 3 year old Johnathan Ball and injured 56 others.

Israelis including religious Jews from West Bank settlements and secular Israelis from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv will join Palestinians from Hebron, Ramallah and Bethlehem and young people from Ireland, England and the Basque region of Spain for a five night programme. The programme will see participants working through topics ranging from conflict indicators to sustainable development. Using their own experiences to draw upon – participants will share with one another and explore alternatives to violence in responding to conflict. 

Commenting on the visit, Programme Manager, Kelly Simcock said:  “Our intention is to equip the participants with the skills to work with conflict differently – so that when they are met with strong opposition, they are more able to negotiate and look at alternatives. People so often become entrenched in their position – this programme is about seeing how we can do things a little differently”.

Foundation Chief Executive, Clare White, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this international group together to explore different routes to transforming conflict. It is another step in the Foundation’s development as it allows us to take the learning from working with young people across the U.K to the international arena.”