Healing Through Remembering (HTR) is an extensive cross-community project in Northern Ireland, made up of a diverse range of individual members with different political perspectives and social experiences.
[1][2] HTR aims at comprehensive involvement of all stakeholders to investigate the feasibility, viability and usefulness of remembering the Troubles and in so doing both individually and collectively contribute to building a better future for all[citation needed][1].
The object of Healing Through Remembering is to promote, for the benefit of the public in Northern Ireland, the advancement of education in the purpose and methods of mediation, conciliation and reconciliation of disputes or conflicts and of all the means of managing them for peaceful resolution in the interests of good citizenship and community relations and in particular to promote research and the exchange of views that help towards education into the causes, prevention and alleviation of destructive patterns of behaviour and into peaceful means of resolving conflict.
It documented the visit of Dr. Alex Boraine to Northern Ireland in February 1999 and recommended wide-ranging discussion to explore and debate ways of examining the past and processes of remembering so as to build a better future.
The purpose of the day is to "Provide an opportunity for people to remember the events of the past in a non-confrontational, dignified and respectful manner."
There was widespread support in favour of a second Day of Private Reflection, with Healing Through Remembering as the lead organisation.
The Living Memorial Museum Sub Group has commissioned an extensive audit of artefacts relating to the conflict which are held in existing archives and personal collections.
The document, Making Peace with the Past: Options for truth recovery regarding the conflict in and about Northern Ireland, was launched on 31 October 2006.
Members of Healing Through Remembering are kept informed of the work of the organisation, are invited to participate in seminars, talks and other events and have voting rights at the AGM.
The members of the current Board are: Dawn Purvis MLA(Honorary Treasurer)[11] Oliver Wilkinson (Honorary Secretary) Claire Hackett (Honorary Treasurer) Brandon Hamber(Chair Storytelling)[12][13] Irwin Turbitt (Chair Day of Reflection) Alan McBride (Chair Living Memorial Museum)[14] Alan Wardle (Chair Truth Recovery & Acknowledgement) Geraldine Smyth (Chair Commemoration)[15] Pat Sheehan (Co-Optee)[16] Brian Lamkin (Co-Optee) Kate Turner – Project Director James Grant – Finance Officer Eimear McVeigh – Administrative Assistant Jayme Reaves – Project Coordinator The Healing Through Remembering Initiative is a limited company with charitable status and has been in operation since October 2003.