Stephen Hughes

When Belfast youth worker Stephen Hughes organised a panel event on reconciliation for his young people he never imagined he’d have to reckon with an utterly personal moment of forgiveness. In Episode 3 Season 2 we're joined by the heart-on-sleeve Divis youth leader, who shares real personal moments of challenge during the darkest and lighter days of youth work in inner city Belfast. Stephen is candid about his own journey from a self-described ‘bratty’ teenager into a dedicated peace activist. We discuss the tragedy of suicide in post-conflict Belfast and Stephen highlights the transformative impact of face-to-face encounters. He majors on the physical barriers that run through communities he’s worked in and pleads for us not to simply ignore their existence. So, join us as we continue to host conversations with those who work on for peace, driven by hope, in communities that still grapple with the legacies of division and conflict. *Produced by MV4 (www.mv4.co.uk) --------- EPISODE KEYWORDS --------- Peacebuilding, Divis, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Youth Work, Community, Reconciliation, Ambassadors for Peace, Sectarianism, Identity, Empathy, Understanding, Mental Health, Suicide, Forgiveness, Non-Violence, Poverty, Trauma, Systemic Segregation, Face-to-Face Encounters, Walls, Unity