Fifth Encompass Journey of Understanding

Encompass’ week in Aberdovey as part of its Fifth Journey of Understanding had been a long time in coming. It had all begun in mid 2006 when Josh Cass and David Bannister of Westminster Metropolitan Police sat down to discuss the idea of a Westminster Reconciliation Project. This wasn’t the first time that the two organisations had worked together- Police cadets had already been part of previous Encompass programs- but this was to be the first joint venture between the two organisations.

In November 2006, twenty young people from around the Borough of Westminster had taken part in a recruitment weekend at Avon Tyrell in the New Forest. From these eight were selected to go forward to the program in February.

Meanwhile recruitment was underway in the other territories that Encompass work in. In Indonesia, alumni were involved in a rigorous selection process run out of the University of Malang. Candidates took part in a series of activities-both physical and discussion based before a final interview.

In the Middle East a new team of recruiters- all ex-participants- were involved with going out to colleges, schools and religious seminaries to find young people to take part.

Finally, in the States, a team of volunteers and alumni worked hard to sell Encompass and the program to schools and colleges. The team did great work and their efforts mean that encompass has a growing name in the States; in the event however, the four American participants came through internship programs based in London.

On Sunday 18th February the whole group met for the first time at Westminster City Hall- from there the group was given a tour of Westminster. En route to the London Eye the group took in Parliament Square before a photo shoot outside 10 Downing Street before a moving visit to the Bali Memorial with Alex and Amanda Braden.

It was then up to Haringey Scout Park for dinner and the long wait for the bus to Wales.

Monday was cold a wet- typical weather for Wales in mid-February but a shock none the less for some of the participants from warmer climes! The day was then spent settling in and acclimatising.

The program was challenging for all those who took part. When not taking part in activities such as climbing, kayaking and hill walking, Encompass regular, Snezana Baclija, ran a series of discussions that tackled themes of identity, confrontation, stereotypes and cultural heritage.

“What did I learn from this program? I learnt more about the other cultures than I ever thought I would. Before the program I wanted to learn some new things, but didn’t care that much whether I didn’t understand that much in the world.

Now I want to learn more and more about conflicts in the world and I want to discover more cultures.” These are the words of one of the participants on the program. Others said how the program, “opened my eyes to the reality of things”. For others the value of the program was in giving them a reflection of how people saw them and their communities.

The group returned from Wales on Sunday 25th February. On Monday, they travelled into London for a final reception hosted by Westminster City Council at Council House on Marylebone Road. In attendance at the reception was Gill Hicks, an ambassador for Peace Direct, and the subject of one of the Forgiveness Projects stories. Gill is a survivor of the July 7th bombings in which she lost both her legs. She shared with those present at the reception her experience and her message of the importance of every moment and the value of every life. It was a truly fitting note on which to end what had been a fantastically successful program.

“The program made me more open minded and less judgemental to other people; and more than anything, it made me believe that it all depends on us- Big changes start from small people.”

Click on photo below to see the Album;