The Herstory Education Trust collaborated with the Jerusalem Centre for Women to co-create the Parallel Peace Project, originated and produced by Melanie Lynch.
At a time of heightened conflict, in areas besieged by violence, the project turns attention to peace building and the hope of resolution, by platforming and facilitating voices both currently affected by conflict and Northern Irish voices who played a role in the successful peace treaty.
From the heart of Belfast to the heart of Jerusalem, this is a chance for the students and women to share messages of hope, peace and wisdom.
THE ONLY VICTORY IS PEACE
Ireland has a painful history of colonialism, racism, famine, poverty, civil war, terrorism and mass emigration. We share these experiences with the ‘New Irish’, immigrants who have joined our communities from all corners of the world.
Today children are born in a new Ireland that is emerging as a peaceful, progressive, multi-cultural society - a beacon of hope and proof of humanity’s potential to heal our histories and rewrite the future.
This short film by Peter Martin follows the journey of a little girl and her paper dove as she voyages through history, innocently witnessing the moments that have shaped our world, captured in powerful illuminations on women and iconic buildings. On her journey she meets awe-inspiring women’s rights and peace activists from Somalia, Kenya, Syria and Libya. All now call Ireland home.
The Irish-Libyan singer-songwriter Farah Elle was specially commissioned to write an original song in Arabic and English for this film.
MOTHERS OF PEACE
The names of Khadijah, Mary and Rachel - Mothers of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths - created by renowned Palestinian calligrapher Saher Kabi for the Parallel Peace Project. All three world religions have a treasured foundational connection with the ancient city of Jerusalem. On #MothersDay we remember that all these religions share the core philosophy of love. We honour the essential role of women in peacebuilding, women who courageously rise above fear and division to co-create a peaceful future for all.
