A Week of Sharing & Healing
A Week of Sharing & Healing by Paulo Pimentel
Strength to Strength’s Young Ambassadors Program took place May 30-June 6, 2013. The Young Ambassadors Program is an innovative and unique programme which brought together 20 young people ages 13-20 and support staff from Algeria, Argentina, Ireland, Israel, Spain, United Kingdom & United States of America, who have survived or been bereaved by acts of terrorism.
The Young Ambassadors Program aims to empower young people to live life to their best potential by providing a safe space for the participants to share their feelings, thoughts and experiences through group work, fun activities, and visits to meet interesting people and places.
The week started with the opportunity for participants to meet the support staff (youth workers, psychologists, and trauma specialists), who all volunteered to support the programme led by Sarri Singer, Founder and Director of Strength to Strength and herself a survivor of a terrorist attack.
Group support was very much part of the program. Young people were supported whilst telling their often highly emotional stories. Some of the support staff have also been directly affected by terrorism and told their stories too. They also attended an Art Therapy workshop and created a collage of their experiences during the week.
Fun activities such as visits to the Intrepid Museum, Six Flags Great Adventure Park, a trip on Police boats on the Hudson River, followed a meeting with Raymond Kelly, The Police Commissioner of New York City, A tour of the Ecko Unltd. showroom followed by a personal talk with Founder and CEO, Seth Gerszberg, a very special art project partnering with New York Says Thank You Foundation, a guided visit to FAO Schwartz, The Apple Store, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, Dave & Busters; 2 shopping trips where shop owners very kindly donated gift vouchers for the group and a trip to a chocolate making factory and shop, where the group created some interesting sweets. A highlight for the participants was spending time with Kevin ‘Dot Com’ Brown who starred on 30Rock and took time out of his schedule to make the group laugh and feel special.
Emotional and enlightening visits to The Tribute WTC Visitor Centre led by Lee Ielpi, co-founder of the Tribute WTC Visitor Centre, The 9/11 Memorial and a cultural diversity evening with leaders of different faiths (Jewish, Muslim and Christian), put together by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis, who spoke about the commonalities and differences between religions, and actively engaged the young people, who asked some probing and enlightening questions. The group also met with various community and political leaders in New York City and shared their stories of loss.
The final workshop was emotional and challenging. Young people and support staff spoke about their feelings, learning and reactions during the week. Everyone was saddened to say goodbye, but happy to have had the opportunity to be part of the very special programme. The whole group realised that it had been a life-changing week that would affect the rest of their lives. This was not the end, but just the beginning for this incredible group of young people.
There are many individuals, groups and companies that will be personally thanked for their generosity, financially and personally. Not least the Board of Directors of Strength to Strength and the Young Executives Division, which is the young leadership arm of the organization and their members, who went out of their way to provide a welcoming and supportive week for the young people and support staff.
Paulo Pimentel is a member of Strength to Strength’s Board of Directors and based in London, England. He is the Coordinator of Brent Bereavement Services, a registered charity since 1987 supporting those affected by sudden and traumatic death and loss, often resulting from murder, suicide and other sudden deaths, provided by 50+ volunteer counsellors. He also managed the 7th July Assistance Centre – the only dedicated independent service for victims of the London attacks of 2005. He continues to provide training in supporting bereaved adults, children & young people and those affected by terrorism for psychotherapists, schools, voluntary agencies, health and social services staff. Paulo has spoken at many United Kingdom and international conferences and seminars on his experience, knowledge and ways to improve support services for the bereaved and survivors of terrorism and other disasters.
