What can we do about what happened to us? Guests: Roland Prevot, Olenka Czarnocki

In this episode, I am talking to two persons from Retissons du Lien (Weaving links), a group established in Belgium in response to the terror attacks in Brussels (and Paris). The group brought together unlikely people such as victims of terrorism as well as the attackers’ families who lost their children due to radicalization. Add to this, front line workers in the field and long meetings, events and monitoring of the trials followed.My guests were Roland Prevot and Olenka Czarnoski who are active in the group. We discussed how the group was established; how the victims and the accuseds' families found each other; the process involved in the meetings; and how the group members evolved in their engagement with the society. They shared their insights and the emotional struggles faced by families; and the importance of creating a safe space for dialogue and healing. We explored the evolution of frontliners' work in the wake of securitization; the challenges of addressing radicalization; as well as how to foster understanding. They emphasized the power of empathy and the necessity of combating societal polarization. This episode is a testament to resilience, hope, and the potential for connection in the face of adversity.