Project COMMON BOND Summer Session 2021
This July, we were thrilled to welcome 26 participants from 12 countries – including first-timers from Bosnia and Uganda – to the summer 2021 session of Project COMMON BOND.
Albeit held virtually, attendees were still able to form strong connections, as they could relate to each other on a level that those in their daily life couldn’t. Everyone had experienced the loss of a loved one due to terrorism, mass violence, violent extremism or war, and it was comforting to be immersed in a community of understanding.
We started the week with discussions around the themes of Courage and Grace. While we can’t share all of the details with you, as the conversations were private and intense, we can say that these small group meetings were certainly memorable. Everyone shared times when their courage and grace were tested and how these experiences have shaped their life journeys.
The program concluded with Dignity and Storytelling sessions. Although it may be daunting, friendships formed fast and participants were comfortable presenting poems reflective of their experience at Project COMMON BOND.
A very special thank you to Raffi Gregorian, Director and Deputy to the Under-Secretary-General UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, for joining us for a special Q&A session.
We look forward to – hopefully – gathering in person at the next session of Project COMMON BOND! Until then, we hope the bonds built and memories made through the screen continue to thrive in the months and years to come.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Project COMMON BOND.
