Peacebuilders
RTC awarded with Coventry International Peace Prize
16 November 2011
Following weeks of anticipation, on 12 November, RTC's trustees, staff, and alumni were presented with the Coventry International Prize for Peace and Reconciliation 2011 at Coventry University. RTC was shortlisted for the prize alonside the highly commended Kreisau Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe (Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego) which seeks to build bridges and promote dialogue between generations in Western and Eastern Europe.
The ceremony was attended by many with speeches by the Lord Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth; the Dean of Coventry, the Very Rev John D Irvine; the Vice Chancellor of Coventry University, Prof Madeleine Atkins; the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Kieran Mulhall; and Professor Alan Hunter, Director for the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies.
Following the speeches on the origins and meaning of the award, acknowledgement to the other organisations featured on the shortlist, and commendation of the recipient, RTC's Peace and Conflict Advisor Joan McGregor made a short audio visual presentation on the work that we do. The video clip shown was taken from RTC's Practice To Policy: Making The Connections video and highlighted how many of the worst conflicts of 20 years ago are still ongoing today, reinforcing the need for continued and sustained emphasis on working with grass roots partners to achieve conflict transformation. The full video can be viewed here.
After the award was presented to RTC's Programme Director Simon Weatherbed by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Kieran Mulhall, Simon's acceptance speech paid homage to RTC's many partners and the ever growing alumni without which our work would be severely limited. Although the prize was accepted in person by RTC, Simon accepted the award on behalf of all the people and organisations that RTC has had the pleasure of either working alongside or training, commenting that RTC's work relies entirely on the efforts of the local actors in the conflict and that they are our inspiration.
“Although we may suffer violence from ‘others', sustainable peace and reconciliation rarely come from outsiders”
The evening was a great success and was a chance for people of the Midlands to meet others involved in promoting peace and reconciliation. RTC would like to thank the judges, organisers, and the attendees of the award ceremony for the evening, and invite all to come see the award and certificate take pride of place on the mantelpiece in our offices at any time.
Additional thanks to Kye Tidman for the photographs from the ceremony - http://kyetidman.wordpress.com/