(July 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tuesday’s Children Hosts Week-long Peace-Building and Conflict Resolution Camp at Foxcroft School in Virginia from July 23-30, 2011
Seventy-seven teens from around the world -- including six from Sri Lanka -- who have lost a family member to an act of terrorism will join together to form an international alliance called Project Common Bond under the auspices of Tuesday’s Children, the premiere non-profit organization serving the needs of the 9/11 community. The eight-day program, now in its fourth year, is changing the lives of young people around the globe through a curriculum that teaches peace-building, mediation and conflict resolution skills.
Tuesday’s Children created Project Common Bond in 2007 in response to a request from 9/11 teens who wanted an opportunity to “give back” through a larger, global initiative. The 2011 Project Common Bond participants will include young adults between the ages of 15 to 20 years old from the United States, Israel, Palestine, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Russia, Spain, Argentina and Sri Lanka. The program will be held at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia from July 23rd through July 30th.
The six teenagers from Sri Lanka each lost a family member in a series of incidents attributed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
According to Terry Sears, Executive Director of Tuesday’s Children, the goal of Project Common Bond is simple and achievable: to impact the lives of young people who have suffered a loss as a result of an act of terrorism – and in doing so, give them leadership skills so they can help others.
During the eight-day forum, the young adults will participate in therapeutic group work, community-building activities, conflict resolution projects and team events designed to foster trust, healing, cooperation and communication. They will also visit Washington, DC, tour the historical Holocaust Museum and the Institute of Peace.
Ms. Sears said, “For these teenagers, the sudden, violent, and public nature of their loss becomes an overwhelming and defining characteristic of their lives. These kids feel different than most of their friends. Often, they are isolated and alone. Their experience is not something that’s easily shared with others.
“At Common Bond, they feel safe. They are suddenly shoulder to shoulder with other teens who understand exactly what they have been through. Common Bond provides them with the opportunity to take their personal tragedy and – with professional guidance from health experts and professionals in conflict resolution – turn their tragedy into strength,” Sears added.
The curriculum was designed by Harvard University Law School’s Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program and incorporates a second Harvard-designed program, the Dignity Model by Donna Hicks of the Weatherhead Center of International Affairs.
Tuesday’s Children created Project Common Bond in 2007 in response to a request from 9/11 teens who wanted an opportunity to “give back” through a larger, global initiative. The 2011 Project Common Bond participants will include young adults between the ages of 15 to 20 years old from the United States, Israel, Palestine, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Russia, Spain, Argentina and Sri Lanka. The program will be held at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia from July 23rd through July 30th.
The six teenagers from Sri Lanka each lost a family member in a series of incidents attributed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
According to Terry Sears, Executive Director of Tuesday’s Children, the goal of Project Common Bond is simple and achievable: to impact the lives of young people who have suffered a loss as a result of an act of terrorism – and in doing so, give them leadership skills so they can help others.
During the eight-day forum, the young adults will participate in therapeutic group work, community-building activities, conflict resolution projects and team events designed to foster trust, healing, cooperation and communication. They will also visit Washington, DC, tour the historical Holocaust Museum and the Institute of Peace.
Ms. Sears said, “For these teenagers, the sudden, violent, and public nature of their loss becomes an overwhelming and defining characteristic of their lives. These kids feel different than most of their friends. Often, they are isolated and alone. Their experience is not something that’s easily shared with others.
“At Common Bond, they feel safe. They are suddenly shoulder to shoulder with other teens who understand exactly what they have been through. Common Bond provides them with the opportunity to take their personal tragedy and – with professional guidance from health experts and professionals in conflict resolution – turn their tragedy into strength,” Sears added.
The curriculum was designed by Harvard University Law School’s Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program and incorporates a second Harvard-designed program, the Dignity Model by Donna Hicks of the Weatherhead Center of International Affairs.
The symposium is being delivered by a team of professionals, coordinated by Curriculum Director and family therapist Monica Meehan McNamara, which includes Stephan Sonnenberg, a recent Lecturer on Law and a Clinical Instructor in the Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program.
Kathy Murphy, Director of Project Common Bond and Tuesday’s Children’s teen programs, said, “At Project Common Bond, we are helping to build the next generation of teachers, doctors, business people, lawyers, engineers, scientists, mothers and fathers. Each of our Project Common Bond kids – no matter where they live – will have a better understanding of how to get by in a very imperfect world and the tools to do it with.”
Ms. Murphy noted that Tuesday’s Children ensures that Project Common Bond is year-round experience for the participants. Following the week-long forum, Tuesday’s Children organizes web-based symposia, blogs, chats and events that keeps the teens actively engaged in the program.
Ms. Murphy also thanked the Foxcroft School for its generosity in providing a Project Common Bond scholarship to an international participant, and for opening up their beautiful facilities for this special program.
Project Common Bond is designed and directed by Tuesday’s Children with the active engagement of its international partners. For a full list of the 2011 participating organizations click here
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Tuesday’s Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long term commitment to every individual impacted by the events of September 11, 2001 and more recently those who have been impacted by terrorist incidents worldwide. Since 2001, Tuesday’s Children has promoted healing and recovery by strengthening family resilience, providing individual coping and life management skills and creating community through programs, mental health support and family engagement opportunities.
About Foxcroft School (www.foxcroft.org
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