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Project Common Bond
Project Common Bond brings together teens, ages 15 - 20 from around the world who share a 'common bond'--the loss of a family member due to an act of terror. Launched in 2008, Project Common Bond has so far brought together over 225 teenagers from eleven different countries and territories to turn their experience of losing a loved one to terrorism into positive actions that can help others exposed to similar tragedy. Participants echo the mantra of our program to "Let Our Past Change the Future." Teens gather for an eight-day healing and peace-building symposium in a safe and supportive environment, where they engage in dialogue and community-building activities that acknowledge and respect their differences while promoting friendship and understanding.
Project Common Bond is building an international community of young people whose lives have been transformed by terrorism--global ambassadors working toward peace, positivity and empowerment.
Project Common Bond is the most expansive and fastest growing of Tuesday's Children's programs and the only international program uniting children directly impacted by acts of terrorism. In August 2012, we held our annual Project Common Bond symposium for the first time outside the U.S., in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Background
For children whose lives have been directly touched by terrorism, the sudden, violent and public nature of their loss becomes an overwhelming and defining characteristic of their lives. As reported by the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, the incidents of terrorism targeting civilians is increasing rather than decreasing. In the ten years since 9/11, nearly 112,000 more people have been killed or injured as a result of a terrorist act. This number is increasing annually as various parts of the world become less stable places in which to live, drastically increasing the number of families, including children, experiencing loss and disability. Incidents in Argentina, England, Ireland, Israel, Liberia, Northern Ireland, the Palestinian territories, Spain and numerous other countries across continents, have resulted in the death or injury of thousands of civilians, changing families forever.
Currently, there is no mechanism to bring together young people who have experienced similar tragedies to build their resilience and strength. These children, in many cases, remain isolated. In a comprehensive document, entitled "Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror," Psychology Beyond Borders--an international non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to assisting communities and individuals impacted by natural disasters, incidents of terrorism and armed conflict--states that a major strategy to enhance resilience includes "building programs and structures that facilitate community and individual bonding." Creating community with peers who share common experiences is a powerful tool for healing and positive growth, especially for young people. The lack of community building forums after 9/11 inspired Tuesday's Children to seize an opportunity to develop programs which created community for families and children, thereby improving their attitudes, awareness and coping abilities.
The idea for Project Common Bond came from our own experience and knowledge of the 9/11 adolescent population along with extensive research in collaboration with mental health experts and family members who have actively participated in Tuesday's Children's programs and services throughout the past decade. Wanting to reach out to others worldwide who have experienced a similar loss and common "bond," Tuesday's Children created an internaional community fostering positive personal growth and community action.
Supporters
American Airlines
The american Ireland Fund
Association De Ayuda A Las Victimas Del 11-M
Belfast Harbor
Bloomberg Foundation
Douglass Ellenoff, Esq.
Flax Trust
Gristmill Foundation
Jacob Marley Foundation
Iberia Airlines
Koby Mitchell Foundation
Manhasset Community Fund
Mr. and Mrs. John Powers
Santa Maria Foundation
Mr. Aidan Smyth
Twin Towers Orphan Fund
Mr. John C. Whitehead
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This year, Project Common Bond will be held 30 minutes outside of Boston, MA at Governor's Academy from
July 12 - 20.
PCB 2011: Continues to Be A Success
Seventy-six teens from around the world that have the unfortunate common bond of having lost a family member to an act of terrorism joined together for a week long alliance from July 23 - 30th, 2011. Project Common Bond, now in it's fourth year, continues to change the lives of young people around the globe.
For eight days in July at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, Virginia, 76 teenagers from Argentina, Israel, Ireland, Liberia, Northern Ireland, Plaestine, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United States came together to heal, explore the concept of dignity and the role it plays in conflict resolution, and form friendships that will last a lifetime.
News outlets such as The Washington Post, BBC, Telemundo, USA Today, and NY1 were able to come in and capture a part of the experience to share with the world. Visit our Media Gallery for this coverage. This was another successful year in continuing Tuesday's Children's steps towards fostering collaboration, peace-building and global stewardship. Some participants were returning for their third of fourth year, while other participants were the first time representatives from their country to attend Project Common Bond. The first day was spent in team building exercises that encouraged trust adn communication and ended around a bonfire making s'mores and learning line dances.
During the week, the young adults participated in an interactive curriculum that introduced te Dignity Model, developed by Dr. Donna Hicks of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, at Harvard University. Monica Meehan McNamara, Director of Curriculum, and a team of facilitators skilled in both conflict resolution and psychology, led three-hour morning sessions. Exploring the concept of dignity offer an accessible and applicable message of hope and transformation. Dignity is inherent in all human beings and that to act with dignity is to extend to others what we would like for ourselves. We cannot always bring about resolution in conflict, but by recognizing that conflict is about the violation of an individual's dignity, we can take immediate steps to address our own dignity and that of each other. Our motto for the week was, "we can do better."
Evening activities included a workshop on stress reduction conducted by Dr. Mandy Habib, an inspirational talk with Michael Brown, a 35-year old who lost his father in a terrorist incident when he was nine, and a World Cafe, a dialogue activity tht encourages open discussion and real conversation for a better world. There was alos plenty of free time to relax, socialize and use the gym. There was no shortage of talent at PCB. Many participants took the opportunity to spontaneously play the piano, guitar, sing or dance.
Partners
Project Common Bond works with respected organizations in nations affected by terrorism that help the young adults who have experienced loss. In addition to family support organizations that screen and select adolescents, program partners consist of Project Common Bond's curriculum providers:
Adelphi University
AMIA
Beslan Relief Fund
Coleman Raider International
Columbia University Center for the Study of Trauma and Resilience
Embassy of Sri Lanka
European Network of Victims of Terrorism
Families Moving On, County Omagh
Feel the Music
Harvard Law School Negotiation & Mediation Program
Haverford College Center for Peace and Global Leadership
International Foundation for Terror Act Victims
International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies
Mothers of Beslan
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Northern Ireland Phoenix Project, County Armagh
NYU Child Study Center
Parents Circle
The Peaceful Education Community Center in Tulkarem
Queens University, Belfast
Russian Children's Welfare Society
South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEEF)
Unforgotten Children of Beslan
WAVE Trauma Center, Belfast
The World Foundation of Music and Healing
Youth Peace-Building Network
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