Nurturing Hope: A Week of Creativity, Connection and Learning

From 8 to 13 July 2026, Corrymeela welcomed around 70 people from across the world for Nurturing Hope Week. Participants travelled from the United States, the republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Ukraine, Lithuania, Mexico, South Africa and beyond, bringing different experiences and perspectives into a shared space.

Members of the Seeds of Hope cohort joined the gathering as part of the wider opportunities offered through the Seeds of Hope Academy. While the week was not a graduation or conclusion to their journey, it gave participants another opportunity to reconnect, encounter new ideas and take part in Corrymeela’s wider community of learning.

Throughout the week, Professor Duncan Morrow introduced participants to René Girard’s mimetic theory, exploring how human beings influence one another and how imitation can shape identity, desire and conflict. This learning was complemented by workshops led by poets, storytellers and artists from across Northern Ireland. Together, these sessions used creativity to help participants explore difficult questions, share experiences and imagine different ways of relating to one another.

For Kobe Griffiths, Seeds of Hope Project Lead, who attended Nurturing Hope Week for the first time, some of the most memorable moments came through celebration:

‘The céilí, Ukrainian dancing and Irish dancing were real highlights for me. There was something powerful about seeing people share parts of their culture so openly. It was also wonderful to see so many familiar faces from Seeds of Hope back together again.’

These moments reflected something central to both Corrymeela and Seeds of Hope: peacebuilding does not happen only through formal discussion. It also grows through creativity, movement, storytelling, shared laughter and the experience of being together.

Karen from the Republic of Ireland also noted ‘the story telling woven throughout the journey has been incredibly powerful. Listening to others share their experiences with such honesty and courage, while finding confidence to share my own story, has been both humbling and inspiring.’

Nurturing Hope Week allowed the Seeds of Hope cohort to strengthen existing relationships while becoming part of a much wider international gathering. Participants left with new connections, creative experiences and ideas that they can carry into their communities, workplaces and future peacebuilding practice.

For Seeds of Hope, the week was another reminder that hope is not simply something we speak about. It is something we nurture together.