The Forgiveness Project enlightens Christ's Hospital School
This article was written by one of our Young Reporters, a scheme that gives 14 to 18-year-old school students a chance to write for a real newspaper. Find out more at the Young Reporter website.
On 26 February, Marina Cantacuzino visited Christ’s Hospital School to present students with an insight into the importance of forgiveness – and what forgiveness can mean in unique ways to multitudes of people.
The evening of Marina’s visit was split up into two events – one being a formal dinner with specifically interested students, and Marina herself, to talk more deeply about the topic of forgiveness; and the second part being the lecture itself, given to a jam – packed school lecture theatre full of intrigued pupils ready to learn about just what they have been missing with the art of forgiveness.
Marina started her charity, The Forgiveness Project, in 2004 after feeling a personal need to make change and fight for forgiveness in a world constantly showered with conflict and crime.
Marina opened her talk by explaining that forgiveness is not about excusing the harm that an offender may have caused, or forgetting what happened. Instead, she described it as a personal journey, a way of reclaiming clarity and calm after trauma. She emphasised that forgiveness is not a duty, nor a sign of weakness, but a choice that she heavily recommends to anyone going through these struggles, because it can set you free from a world of hate and regret.
She went on to share personal stories from The Forgiveness Projects own workers—survivors of violence, former perpetrators, and even a mother who forgave her own son’s killer. However shocking these may sound, they emphasise just the importance reconciliation can have on people’s lives.
Her stories reminded students that forgiveness is not something to be seen as weak; but should instead be a form of strength used more and more frequently.
In a school like Christ's Hospital that values compassion, resilience and moral independence both now and later in life - this seemed a very important message indeed.
Everyone involved on the evening would like to Marina ever so much for such an eye-opening and inspiring visit, I can confidently say everyone in that lecture room took something deeply meaningful from her reflective words.
And, just as Marina (and I'm sure now students of Christ's Hospital!) shall continue to advocate for - forgiveness sometimes may just be the peace you are missing in your lives.
