Forgiveness as a peace process

The GHFP believes that forgiveness is a key element in peacebuilding, especially in post-conflict countries. Forgiveness is an inner journey. It allows the individuals to address our own cycle of fear, and create new momentum of reconciliation and transformation.

the Garden of Forgiveness is a place for calm reflection, healing, understanding and expression of common humanity

Alexandra Asseily, one of our trustees, has made an important contribution to the understanding of the root causes of violence and the importance of forgiveness in breaking the cycle of violence. Alexandra's work is based on her many years of reflection on the individual's responsibility in the perpetuation of violence. This has led to a widely accepted account of the significance of ancestral influences and "embodied memory" across generations in the history of conflict and trauma, where individuals can become receivers of inherited patterns from conflict rooted before our time.



	Alexandra wrote a Design Brief for the Garden at Hadiqat As-Samah. In March 2000 the international competition for the design of the garden was won by Gustafson Porter who have also created many other prestigious international projects. The master plan for the site was approved by the Council of Ministers in June 2001. Plans of The Garden of Forgiveness were shown at the Van Alen Institute in New York in 2002 in their 'Renewing, Rebuilding, Remembering' exhibition. The Garden of Forgiveness was also featured in the exhibition 'Groundswell - Constructing the Contemporary Landscape' at the MoMA, New York, 22nd February to 16 May, 2005.

	The Garden of Forgiveness was also featured in the film 'The Power of Forgiveness'

	The Fetzer Institute recently launched a campaign of 'love and forgiveness' which promotes Gardens of Forgiveness projects.

	Sacred City is running a campaign through Forgive to Give for a garden around 'Ground Zero' in New York City.

Alexandra has worked since 1998 on the ideas presented in a 'Vision for the Garden of Forgiveness' and looks forward to the completion of the work in good time. The garden at Hadiqat-as-Samah will become a place to be used and appreciated as an ancient communal space for quiet contemplation, healing and forgiveness. For the theoretical background on this, please refer to her paper 'Breaking the Cycles of Violence' and her article 'Exploring stories to find the storyteller' in the book 'Exploring Selfhood'.

The Garden of Forgiveness Beirut (Hadiqat As-Samah), is envisioned as a place of calm reflection, sheltered from the bustle of the city and expressing themes of understanding, forgiveness and unity. Nestled between mosques and churches, and integrating archaeological remains of surviving city layers, Hadiqat As-Samah will offer unique insights into earlier civilizations, demonstrating a shared ancestry that predates the recent conflict. By displaying these layers of civilizations, the garden will "use foundations of the past to build foundations for the future."

In its proximity to the wartime Green Line that divided the city and became the focus of conflict, the Garden of Forgiveness is to provide a meeting point where individuals can reflect on their collective memory and nurture a renewed sense of common identity.

Construction of the Beirut Garden of Forgiveness started in September 2003. However, work on public spaces in central Beirut has been halted since July 2006 due to an Israeli air attack. Nevertheless the site has been visited by many international groups and individuals who accord their respects by reflecting and praying there for forgiveness and peace.There are now a number of other projects around the world for Gardens of Forgiveness, and many which propose forgiveness as a response within a range of contexts. The GHFP is developing an interactive online resource locating forgiveness projects worldwide.

The GHFP is currently working with the Centre for Lebanese Studies and other partners in convening an international conference entitled 'Healing the Wounds of History: Addressing the Roots of Violence' to be held on 11-13 November 2011 in Lebanon. This conference aims to create space so that people can feel experientially the ideas that are behind the Garden of Forgivenessraise; become more consciously aware of where and how memory is held and how grievances (and gifts) are passed down from generation to generation; share processes and procedures that can help to heal grievances, and liberate gifts, experience some personal healing, and forgive and feel greater compassion for others and ourselves.