Peace by Piece

Our guest on this episode is a young peacemaker called Zach Hutchinson.  Zach was born just after the Good Friday Agreement was signed so his lens on life is entirely post conflict and his passion for a peacemaking type of politics led him to the Centre of Democracy & Peacebuilding.  Through its work he convenes leaders from all political hues, believing in the magic of encounter and relationship.  He has much to say to a new generation about why peace matters and why we should get curious enough to follow the threads of our own subconscious prejudices and find out what freedom lies in exploring them.

Ian Bothwell is not a household name but is someone who has been quiet peacemaking in south Armagh for almost half a century.  At the height of the Troubles he felt a draw to defy some of the barriers and fears in his own context to move from his home in Amagh to Crossmaglen.  Ian and his wife Pauline set up a charity that brought care to people through anti-poverty work, prisoner support, youth work and personal encounter, by setting up a market stall in the town.  In this conversation Ian opens up about losses he suffered that challenged him to 'let other narratives in' and how that hasn't always been a path that has been easy or understood.

Inioluwa Olasebikan is an incredible young Nigeria woman who now calls Belfast home.  At 18 years old Ini has overcome many challenges to become an impassioned advocate for ethnic minority communities on integration and education rights for young people seeking asylum.  In this conversation she speaks candidly about what it’s like to arrive here as a young person and to notice how our two community lens can prevail.  Ini has felt both 'othered' and welcomed in Belfast.  She’s got a brilliant voice and her challenge around how we reimagine peace deserves to be heard far and wide!

Artist Carole Kane is a beautiful under the radar force for peace.  Trained as a weaver, she has a hands-on, graceful approach when it comes to community peacemaking.  As a young artist she felt moved by an appeal on the radio after the Omagh bombing, that was an ask for ideas on what to do with the carpet of flowers left in honour of the victims.  In a spur of the moment move Carol made an offer that would change her life.  In this conversation she shares from the heart about the power and potential for art to help and heal and what she has learned from being in those spaces.  We talk about the lack of focus on this aspect of our post conflict journey and how, when done sensitively, art has the potential to unlock so much. Voices like Carole’s have quiet gold to offer and can leave us feeling more peaceful, as a result of simply hearing their their stories of thoughful peacemaking.

David Porter is someone whose passion for peace is a thread that runs throughout a career that has taken him right to the heart of church life.  His own heart for reconciliation and his expression of that within various key roles gives him a lived vantage point from which to offer challenge and insight.  He was Canon for Reconciliation at Coventy Cathedral which has always been a hub for peace, involved in some of the world’s most difficult areas of conflict. Later peace building was very much in David’s focus when he become chief of staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury.  (*important to say this conversation with David was recorded before Justin Welby resigned) But in this episode David shares how he’s faced criticism over some perceptions he’s been too sympathetic with former paramilitaries, gets honest about narratives of prejudice and racism, and spotlights the beautiful peace witnesses that have emerged from many faith communities.

When Belfast youth worker Stephen Hughes organised a panel event on reconciliation for his young people he never imagined he’d have to reckon with an utterly personal moment of forgiveness.  In Episode 3 Season 2 we're joined by the heart-on-sleeve Divis youth leader, who shares real personal moments of challenge during the darkest and lighter days of youth work in inner city Belfast. Stephen is candid about his own journey from a self-described ‘bratty’ teenager into a dedicated peace activist.  We discuss the tragedy of suicide in post-conflict Belfast and Stephen highlights the transformative impact of face-to-face encounters. He majors on the physical barriers that run through communities he’s worked in and pleads for us not to simply ignore their existence. So, join us as we continue to host conversations with those who work on for peace, driven by hope, in communities that still grapple with the legacies of division and conflict.

*Produced by MV4 (www.mv4.co.uk)

--------- EPISODE KEYWORDS ---------

Peacebuilding, Divis, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Youth Work, Community, Reconciliation, Ambassadors for Peace, Sectarianism, Identity, Empathy, Understanding, Mental Health, Suicide, Forgiveness, Non-Violence, Poverty, Trauma, Systemic Segregation, Face-to-Face Encounters, Walls, Unity

Davy Adams is someone who turned his life around 180; he was a paramilitary insider at the height of the conflict who went on to help make peace here and then travel to war torn parts of the globe as an impassioned peace advocate.  Our conversation begins with honest reflection on why Davy joined the UDA and his great regret over that.  He provides insights into the building of the loyalist ceasefire and his involvement in the 1998 peace negotiations, before he stepped away entirely to work for international aid agency Goal; a role that took him all over the world, shaping and reshaping him.  He’s a fascinating character with a refreshing authenticity about his past and a heart for reconciliation, integration and inclusivity. 

What defines a home? Jazz singer Dana Masters, who hails from the deep south of America and has found her heart in Northern Ireland, joins us to unravel this profound question. Through Dana's lens, we explore the concept of home as a source of peace. Her story is beautifully woven with her family's legacy in the civil rights movement, offering a unique perspective on justice and reconciliation here. Our conversation traverses the connections between American civil rights struggles and Northern Ireland’s ongoing journey toward peace. Education stands at the crossroads of change and tradition, and we explore its powerful role. Inspired by personal stories, including Dana’s experience as a mother navigating a divided school system, we question whether the educational landscape here truly supports inclusivity and lifelong curiosity. Reflecting on persistent societal divisions, we ponder the transformative potential that a more integrated educational framework could bring. We also look at the role of the arts in healing generational trauma and fostering community resilience. Music and storytelling become vehicles for change, as Dana shares how her artistry is a tribute to heritage and an expression of activism.  By sharing stories like Dana’s, we aim in this series to inspire a collective vision for a more reconciled future, turning the tide towards a society that celebrates its diverse narratives and histories.

*Produced by MV4 (www.mv4.co.uk)

For this special Peace by Piece conversation I was joined live on stage at the Duncairn Arts Centre in north Belfast by Megan Phair.  Megan is an all round activist and justice campaigner. She’s a programme co-ordinator for Invisible Traffic and a member of Stop the Attacks, a group that aims to spotlight and challenge the injustices of paramilitary assaults. Megan is also part of an amazing community well-being space and farm in north Antrim called Origin.

In this chat, recorded at the end of last year as part of an event focussed on the live issue of human trafficking, Megan shares how an international experience of injustice ignited her passion to speak out against paramilitary coercion here.  She speaks searingly about battles she's faced in her own life and how that fuels her zeal to help young people experience real freedom and peace.

David Eagleson was deputy director of the NI Prison Service and has held leadership roles in a number of prisons. David had an interesting vantage point at a key period of our history, working within the Maze Prison in the run up to the release of prisoners under the 1998 peace deal.  It is that pressure cooker time, he says, helped fuel a passion he has for restorative justice.  

In this conversation he shares some powerful stories of bringing victims and perpetrators together with the aim of helping people find answers & peace.  David has recently retired but is now lobbying for restorative practises to be more widely used in prisons. 

His is a perspective we don’t hear too often and offers interesting insight into the burdens and stories that people with proximity to the Troubles continue to carry.  David also shares his hopes for this place and lays down a challenge for much more courageous conversation making to take place.