[caption id="attachment_66434" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Photo by Matthew Schmiemann. Learning lessons of peace in order to spread them back home were (l-r) Joanne Murphy, Aiden Skelton, Orlagh Skelton, Richard John Hall, Dubhaltach Mulvanna, Davina Whiteside and Rachel Duncan. "]
Seven teenagers from Northern Ireland who have lost a family member to an act of terrorism have joined together with teens from a number of other countries to form an international alliance called Project Common Bond - this under the auspices of Tuesday's Children, a leading non-profit organization serving the needs of the 9/11 community.
The recently concluded eight-day program, now in its fourth year, was aimed at changing the lives of young people around the globe through a curriculum that teaches peace-building, mediation and conflict resolution skills.
Tuesday's Children created Project Common Bond in 2007 in response to a request from 9/11 teens who wanted an opportunity to "give back" through a larger, global initiative.
The 2011 Project Common Bond participants included young adults between the ages of 15 to 20 years old from the United States, Israel, Palestine, Russia, Spain, Argentina, Sri Lanka and the North. The program was held at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia.
The seven teenagers from Northern Ireland each lost a family member during the "Troubles"
During their Virginia stay, the group participated in therapeutic group work, community-building activities, conflict resolution projects and team events designed to foster trust, healing, cooperation and communication.
They also visited Washington, D.C. where they toured the Holocaust Museum and the Institute of Peace.
Said one of the North visitors: "I have made many new friends through Project Common Bond, who I keep in constant contact with. I wish to further learn how to move forward after a period of conflict.
"After studying the politics in Northern Ireland I am very aware of the background behind the conflicts in my country and studying it has helped me view it in an unbiased way, understanding both sides of the conflict. With Northern Ireland at such a pivotal point in the peace process, I hope to bring home to my family and friends the things I have learned and help them make the steps I am beginning to make."
Said Kathy Murphy, director of Project Common Bond and Tuesday's Children's teen programs: "At Project Common Bond, we are helping to build the next generation of teachers, doctors, business people, lawyers, engineers, scientists, mothers and fathers. Each of our Project Common Bond kids - no matter where they live - will have a better understanding of how to get by in a very imperfect world and the tools to do it with."
Tuesday's Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long-term commitment to every individual affected by the events on September 11, 2001 and more recently those who have been affected by terrorist incidents worldwide.
Since 2001, Tuesday's Children, according to a release, "has promoted healing and recovery by strengthening family resilience, providing individual coping and life management skills and creating community through programs, mental health support and family engagement opportunities."
