The July 2006 Journey of Understanding

“You brought them all the way here?”, asked a slightly incredulous coach driver, “but why?”

That was the question that many asked when they heard that a group of young people from Israel, Indonesia, the Palestinian Territories, America and from across the UK would be gathering in Aberdovey, Wales: “Why?”

It is a question that Josh, Louise and the rest of the Encompass team are becoming used to being asked and the answer is always the same:

When you have young people who are worried sick that their friends might have been killed in wars, by armies, by terrorists, when they live metres from where terrorist bombs have exploded in London, when the death of Azahari bin Husin (a key figure in Jemaah Islamiyah, a terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda) is local news, let alone national or international, it begins to come clear that what these young people need to begin to understand the conflicts which affect their lives is some distance from them and the feeling of security to be able to discuss. That is way Encompass runs these programmes in remote areas of the UK, because they are neutral places, places where people can feel safe and secure and equal.

The July 2006 Journey of Understanding began at Heathrow Airport on Friday 21st July. For many in the group they had already been traveling for over two days to be there and it was still a long way before they reached their final destination of Aberdovey in Wales. The landscape that greeted them on their arrival, the Outward Bound® Centre perched above the Dyfi Estuary, more than made up for the long journey. It was then that the programme proper could begin!

Working hard to put together a programme which challenges preconceptions, Encompass and Outward Bound® sought to allow the participants to engage with on another as individuals. By the end of the first day, participants were engaging in all manner of trust and team building exercises and by the second day they were abseiling, rock climbing and getting ready for overnight expeditions with the rest of their teams. Meanwhile, as Outward Bound® used their expertise to help bring the group together by day, Encompass’ trained Facilitator, Snezana Baclija, was running a series of probing discussions and facilitated workshops in the evenings which further challenged participants’ perceptions and preconceptions.

Participants came away with new perspectives on old ideas. For some, it was the opportunity to see that Britain and the West was not monolithic, that there was criticism from within society; for others it was a chance to meet “the other side” of an old conflict.

As one participant put it when asked to describe the value of an Encompass programme:

“You are taking part in a once in a lifetime journey. Please come with an open mind and an open heart. This may seem like a small step in a long, uphill battle, but never forget that what you do will bring peace for future generations. Opening minds and having discussions are the first steps in achieving our goals. It must not stop after the program however because cultural understanding is a lifelong process and a way of life. Things may be hard this week and in the future. Always remember that if you want what you’ve never had, you must learn to do what you’ve never done.”

As the participants themselves said, the next step goal for Encompass is to ensure
that the residential programme is seen as a first step in a process that eventually sees them running their own local projects aimed at tackling local issues. Encompass will be there every step of the way to ensure that they are supported in this process.

Click on photo below to see the Album;

Posted Tuesday August 8, 2006

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