Nathan Carson, 18, from Maguiresbridge – the grandson of the late Herbie Kernaghan – is currently taking part in a week-long peacebuilding programme in the US with the support of South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF).

Herbie, who was a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), was murdered by the IRA on October 15, 1979 when making his morning delivery of fruit and vegetables to a primary school in Rosslea.

Now, grandson Nathan is one of four young people from SEFF taking part in Project Common Bond (PCB), an annual international programme hosted by Tuesday’s Children at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, which started on July 16, running until July 24.

Nathan Carson pictured with Doreen Mullan, health and wellbeing caseworker with SEFF, who is chaperone of the group.

Nathan Carson pictured with Doreen Mullan, health and wellbeing caseworker with SEFF, who is chaperone of the group.

The programme is for teenagers and young adults aged between 15-22 who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to terrorism, violent extremism, or war.

Through a recognition of how conflict has impacted their lives, and experiencing a unique multicultural community, participants are empowered to be peace builders and agents of change back in their own communities.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter on Friday, July 15 ahead of departing for the US the next day, Nathan was looking forward to the experience.

"Both of my sisters went [previously to PCB], and we're eligible to go because my granda was murdered by the IRA.

"My sisters both said that they got a lot out of their trips. They said that when you first go over, you're kind of nervous, but by the end of the week, you're completely out of your shell and you make really good friends over there."

Talking about what he will be doing during the programme, Nathan said: "There's activities that you do and you pick one main one.

"The options are peacebuilding, public speaking, music and sport," he added, noting that he has chosen sport.

"You do all of them anyway, but there's just one main one that you do most of the time."

When asked what he hopes to learn from his experience, he said: "I hope to learn about how terrorism has affected other people, because it's affected me, but for most of the people over there, it's first-hand.

"Obviously, it happened to my granda when my mum was 10; even one of my uncles, he didn't get to meet him.

"Basically, everyone over there has been affected first-hand, and have known the people that have been killed. I just wonder how it differs," he told this newspaper.

Alongside Nathan, others attending the programme via SEFF are Rory Conaghan from Londondonderry, who is the grandson of Judge Rory Conaghan; Zara McAnerney, from Killylea, Co. Armagh, the niece of Terence McKeever; and Demi Agar, from Jarrow, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, the granddaughter of Thomas Agar.

SEFF's Director of Services, Kenny Donaldson, said: "For the past 11 years, SEFF has supported circa 23 young people to take part in PCB, with many of them going on to become agents of change in various parts of the world.

"This year we have four participants taking part, who will be joined with four young people representing the MUVE group in Cookstown.

"SEFF's four young people, and the four others attending via the MUVE project, will do their families, our groups, and the community proud when they represent us as ambassadors.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for the young people to engage with other young people across the world whose families have been ravaged by the effects of war, terrorism and/or other civil strife.

"Our young people will be able to contribute a key insight for others into the transgenerational impacts of violence, and our young people will be humbled by the primary experiences of other contributors, who will have been bereaved of a family member in recent years."

Saying that SEFF is an outwards-facing organisation that sees merit in joining forces with all who subscribe to a values system – that the use of violence in the furtherance of, or defence of a political objective, is wrong and unjustified – Kenny continued: "Our young people will seek to educate others as to the continued challenges we face in Northern Ireland through a glorification of terrorism or violence, the lack of meaningful integration of our society, and the continued failure to adequately address our past through a transparent, fair and justice-centred approach."