Our unique contribution

I am Jo Berry, the daughter of Anthony Berry who was one of the five people killed in the IRA bombing of Brighton's Grand Hotel 29 years ago. In my quest to understand those responsible and contribute to peace, I met Patrick Magee, the man who planted the bomb, in November 2000.

As we  listened to each other’s story we  came to realise that this was the beginning of another journey in which we have committed ourselves to exploring and promoting non-violent solutions.  

We are unusual and unique as we come from from opposite sides and have worked together in many places around the world.  In the last 13 years we have spoken together over 120 times facilitating workshops which enable dialogue between opposing groups and giving talks on conflict resolution and alternatives to violence.

Every time we speak we make a impact as we demonstrate how former enemies can listen with respect and empathy.

And you can help by contributing to us going to Sarajevo

Peace Event Sarajevo

We now have an opportunity to facilitate a  workshop at a international peace event in Sarajevo which is marking the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. We will be flying on June 5th so very soon! It will serve as an acknowledgement for all peace initiatives which have been flourishing for decades and a reminder that peace still needs to be fostered. Furthermore, it will represent an international exchange platform for debate and information on different topics related to non-violence and peace.

See here for more information

The Siege of Sarajevo was the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare, lasting 1425 days from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996. During this time Sarajevo was surrounded by a 13,000 strong force that assaulted the city and the people with a horrendous range of weapons. This war in Bosnia Herzegovina has left its mark and even after twenty years, there is little in place to help people heal so that they can move on in their lives.  So this Peace Conference is a great opportunity for us all to make a difference.

Reconciliation through empathy

I am honoured to be going to the first international peace event with Pat Magee and I know our example and experience of empathy and reconciliation will be making a positive contribution.  People from local organisations supporting people to deal with their past will mix with organisations from all round the world to debate and learn about different aspects of non-violence and conflict transformation and remind us that peace still needs to be actively fostered.

Our workshop and our experience will make a massive difference.  We reach out and touch people’s lives contributing hugely to their healing, enabling them to contribute to a peaceful future.  Crucially we create a safe place for their story to be heard.  And we inspire people as we share the ups and downs of our story. We strengthen each other’s work, support and inspire each other.  Sharing with other post violent conflicts is vital to learn from each other and build a different future.  Share our story of reconciliation gives others hope and support so they are empowered to move on.

This first event will light one candle of hope from which many other candles will be lit, illuminating the way for many others to find peace, reconciliation and a hopeful,  secure future.

As a consequence of what we do, people at grassroots level caught up in the seeming hopelessness following the conflict gain empathy, understanding and hope that supports them to take action towards reconciliation.

By demonstrating what can be achieved through reconciliation, we can make a stronger case to policy makers to devote more resources to it.

We inspire a wide range of people to take more action to promote non-violent and empathy based approaches to situations of conflict.

Do listen to Jo Berry's talk Disarming with Empathy at TedX Exeter.

How you can contribute and make a difference

How many of us watch the news of such atrocities and feel powerless to do a thing about them? How many of us have to shut our hearts to the enormity of such conflicts knowing that our minuscule efforts would be pitiful in the face of such overwhelming horror?

Whilst there are some small efforts to help people recover from these conflicts, there is nowhere near enough happening to really make a lasting difference.

I want to reach out to the people to offer them some hope and light but I need your help. We believe that this is a huge opportunity for us to make a difference and show that we care.

Please make a contribution to the costs of us getting there and spread the word to everyone you know.

A trip to Bosnia Herzegovina in March of this year showed me just how much of an issue this is. After my visit, I have come back with a strong emotional connection with the people of Bosnia and I want to return.  It shocks me that so much suffering, violence and genocide happened so close to us, and how they have very little resources for healing and moving on. Yet I met amazing people who shared their stories, their projects and their passion for peace.

Most of us know how we are left feeling after a bad argument. Some of us have even been the victim of an act of aggression, but how many of us can even begin to contemplate what it it is to endure the relentless onslaught of life-threatening violence.

Never mind the issue of not being able to enjoy the basic human rights of a safe, secure home with access to good food and clean water, these people are left with the deeper scars of horrendous losses, psychological trauma and even physical wounds.

Whilst we watch these atrocities on our TV screens, most of us feel helpless and powerless to do anything to stop the conflicts.

But you can make a difference by helping us to go and share our story.

What your contribution will cover

We are determined to make as big a difference as we can and so we are keeping costs to the minimum. 

Pat and I are visiting Sarajevo for 5 days to facilitate one workshop and contribute to all the workshops and talks including many 1-2-1's.  What we need is funding for our travel, food, accommodation, travel insurance and workshop and meeting costs.

If we get more than £3000 funding

If this project inspires you and we are able to exceed the amount raised then there is much much more that we can do to help support the people of Bosnia Herzegovina on their journey of healing, such as: 

Facilitate a discussion about future support and projects

Ongoing remote support

Pay for return visits to the whole Balkan area and  facilitate further workshops and create bespoke programmes supporting the communities there.

Pay for an additional person to join us on the trip to document, record and write about the experiences so that we can further share the stories of the people in the hope of raising awareness as well as inspiring further support and engagement.

Your support will make this important contribution happen and in return you can receive some amazing perks.

What other people have said about our work

“Jo Berry and Pat Magee are a powerful walking example of how reconciliation can happen. From the courage they showed to begin the conversation, to their willingness to appear in public at the Barbican theatre in 2002, their determination has meant that more and more people can understand that it is possible to overcome hatred and suspicion. That they now have been invited to work in Israel/Palestine for a week could be of considerable help to people there, who need encouragement. I strongly recommend that supporting them will pay peace dividends.”

Dr Scilla Elworthy

"Thank-you so much, Jo and Pat,  for the opportunity for us to hear your words, your experiences, your feelings and your optimism for the future. You have no idea how rare it is for us here in Israel to sit before people such as yourselves and to hear the story, the evolution of your project, the goals and the vision and not find yourself in the heat of a volatile political argument with no side really hearing the other! Your story, along with the way you present it and offer it to us for reaction and identification, is a rare gem in the jungle of violence, animosity and "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth". By coming all this way to share your experiences, along with the deep-seated emotions that they evoke, you have performed a most noble act of true humanistic education, a voice of hope, reconciliation and of peace."

A member of Parents Circle-Family Forum

More about Jo and Pat

I am Jo Berry, the daughter of  Anthony Berry who was one of the five people killed in the IRA bombing of Brighton's Grand Hotel 29 years ago. In my quest to understand those responsible and contribute to peace, I met Patrick Magee, the man who planted the bomb, in November 2000.

As we  listened to each other’s story we  came to realise that this was the beginning of another journey in which we have committed ourselves to exploring and promoting non-violent solutions.  We now work together around the world and have spoken together over 120 times facilitating workshops which enable dialogue between opposing groups and giving talks on conflict resolution and alternatives to violence.

Every time we speak we make a impact as we demonstrate how former enemies can listen with respect and empathy.

Pat Magee was released from prison in 1999, having served 14 years under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. It was important for Pat as part of the peace process in North of Ireland  to recognise that now he and others should engage with former enemies and political opponents, addressing the needs and grievances of victims, helping to break down differences by explaining ourselves to the other. He also recognises, 'war does rob combatants of something of what it is to be human, of an essential capacity to empathise and to see the world through the eyes of others. The hope lies in the fact we continue to meet in order to further this mutual process towards understanding.'

Letter of support

This is a copy of a letter I received supporting our proposal which offers further context.

Nearly twenty years after the end of the 1992-1995-war, the society of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains very divided, and constructive approaches to deal with the difficult past remain rare. Of course, the history of Northern Ireland and the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina are not the same. And each individual, as well as each society, has to find his own way how to cope with a difficult past.

But I deeply believe that it is very important to share powerful experiences like yours also here in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not as a copy-past-model, but as a catalyst to enable dialogue, sharing of stories, responses and questions. The “Peace Event 2014” to be held in Sarajevo in June would be a perfect framework to share and discuss your experience within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dr. Nicolas Moll (an independent researcher and freelance consultant and trainer in the field of dealing with the past who has lived in Sarajevo since 2007.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sarajevo

Please help us make a difference and get the word out and share with your networks.