A workshop based programme to enable participants to reach a more sympathetic understanding of all those affected by armed conflict.
Mr. Costas Antoniou from Katerine in Greece visited the Conflicts of Interest project recently to brief its staff on a programme he is helping deliver in his home country. Mr. Antoniou and colleagues from the Katerini prefecture’s education deparment are working on a distance learning system using modern technology.
Costas Antoniou signing the visitors book in the Conflicts office
The Conflicts of Interest programme was devised by Expac to address the need for different communities to understand the views and opinions of others, in the context of the conflict centred in Northern Ireland. The programme set out to allow people to build their understanding of and explore the reasons for conflict, and to then set then within a European and global context.
Conflicts of Interest is a workshop based programme which aims to enable participants to reach a more sympathetic understanding of all those affected by armed conflict. Given the history of violence on this island, this course focussed largely on the period of the ‘Troubles’ but also examined similar conflicts in other parts of Europe.
The programme has involved the delivery of 8 modules. Each module comprises a DVD, visiting speaker(s), and facilitated conflict resolution training. Modules were mostly delivered on a weekly basis over 8 weeks, but occasionally on a less frequent basis over a longer timespan.
The programme is supported by a Project Co-Ordinator, Oliver Corr, and the project is part-funded by Border Action through the EU Peace & Reconciliation programme.
See photos here for the Conflicts of Interest training session in Sheffield.
Project Aims
In the first instance it allows participants to learn of the differing views held about the northern conflict.In the second instance it aims to encourage those with deeply held opinions to share and exchange their views with others who do not hold similar opinions.
This project is supported by PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Community Relations Council/Border Action consortium
Expac commissioned a report into the situation and needs of aging politically motivated former prisoners. This research was carried out by Dr. Ruth Jamieson and Dr. Adrian Grounds and is available in PDF format by clicking on the text below the icon.
