Forgiving the Unforgivable: Impact of Forgiveness on War Survivors

1. Forgiving the Unforgivable Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? Kemal Pervanic – Part 2

2. Recap How would a person feel if their friends and teachers turned against them and became part of a large group that persecuted them and their family? | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 2

3. Omarska / Manjača Individually read the information in the student booklet about the Omarska and Manjača concentration camps. | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 3

4. Explore • Split into small groups. • Spend roughly 4 minutes exploring each statement on page 4 and 5 in your student booklet. • Use the prompt questions to encourage discussion in your group. • Make notes as needed and feedback to the class. Seated together in Kemal’s school photograph are classmates who became killers and concentration camp guards, and those who became inmates and torture victims. The whereabouts of some of their bodies are still unknown. | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 4

5. Kemal’s journey towards forgiveness “It was important to accept that these events did happen, so when I accepted that I have survived these terrible atrocities I was able to move on and I described myself as becoming a survivor whereas before I was a victim. (Forgiving my captors) was a huge moment in my life. I felt this huge burden I had carried on my shoulders all my life disappear. I did something big for myself. I became a free person. It was the moment when I gave myself a new lease of life.” Kemal Pervanic | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 5

6. Kemal’s journey towards forgiveness • Write a couple of paragraphs about Kemal and his journey towards forgiveness. Try to reflect on the following points and give reasons for your views: • What factors led to him being able to forgive? • What was it about forgiveness that made Kemal feel he had a new lease of life? • How did forgiving his captors make Kemal feel like a free person? • How has his story impacted on you and your thinking? | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 6

7. The Future How does Kemal make meaning of his experience? Kemal is wholeheartedly committed to supporting Bosnia out of the aftermath of war. He set up a charity called Most Mira which uses creative participation with young people to explore a collaborative future with the aim of preventing such atrocities from ever happening again. He believes today's children are the unacknowledged victims of that war, going to segregated schools and returning home to families preoccupied by bitter memories. Yet, they are crucial to creating a peaceful future. They are currently fundraising to create a Peace Centre in the village. If you would like to support the project in any way please visit: http://www.mostmiraproject.org | | Lesson 2 How can forgiveness impact the survivors of war? 7