As part of the evaluation process throughout the lifetime of the partnership participants were asked to share their thoughts on the SICRIE Project.

Here are some of their reflections - in their own words.

I have seen that though people are different their needs are similar –the need for love, care, acceptance and a future

I am overwhelmed to see the struggle of all for hope

I have been enriched by the similarities and contrasts in European exclusions and inclusions and the place of religion in the places we have visited

I am amazed to see the good and bad in different countries

This has been an opportunity to kick start inclusion through our experience – seeds of hope have been planted

I have been re-motivated

I am amazed that so many people want to cross interfaces to give hope to others

It is good that people from across divides can come together to have a common shared goal and understand the pain & suffering of other human beings

I am impressed by the friendliness of this group and for the first time in my life I feel as really equal and also the first time that the boundaries between people don’t seem to matter

Learning of the history of the different places was important to me as was seeing different aspects of life in each country

This was a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone

Life is a journey – so grateful for this experience that provided me with the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people around Europe

Where I encountered poverty and despair I wanted to show acceptance and respect and to share love

I have enjoyed the culture diversity of parts of Eastern Europe and it has instilled in me the will to build on this experience

I have really appreciated the friendship and acceptance offered in each of the different workshops

I am from the Czech Republic and I am grateful for this opportunity to go to different places, experience different cultures and meet all these lovely and different people

I was very happy for the opportunity to speak together and learned alot

I was shocked by some of the deep divisions

I have come to appreciate the European Union

The thoughts, personal stories and the nature of the work of programme participants provoked ideas regarding ‘Life’

Travelling and meeting with other groups has highlighted how much our ‘seeing’ is conditioned by our own life experience

There is great fragmentation even within marginal communities

Commitment to live and work within a different cultural/ethic/religious group can be a costly commitment

There is a range of commonalities among the national groups represented

We have a responsibility to those without a voice

Engagement is uncomfortable but integration impacts and influences life choices

What appears from the outside to be a coherent community is invariably a complicated mix of histories and traditions which reminds me of complicated calculations. There is no fixed conclusion to the equations. Need to see our identities as provisional

Four countries, four different groups of people gathering together to share stories on how to preserve the human identity – the meeting place for humanness is not necessarily geographical but it is a place in the heart after overcoming suffering

There is always hope even though we may not be able to see it at the moment

It's been extremely valuable to hear the varied insights and reflections from people coming from diverse cultures and backgrounds on the same event or issue. This has allowed for rich discussion and provocative thinking for myself and our group beyond the times and dates of the SICRIE meetings.

There has been a surprising affinity in issues and concerns of social integration among different cultural contexts.

This workshop hs been very rich in new information and experience and it definately helped to broaden my horizons. And it was fun!

Think it would be nice when all the talking, photos, etc are completed to exchange emails and keep in touch.

Thank you!