As a freelance journalist Marina wrote stories between 1990-2004 about ordinary people’s struggles and triumphs: the challenges they faced with their relationships, their health, and their work. As a result, she became acutely aware that far more effective than reporting on the views of experts and analysts, was being able to share the authentic voices of people who had lived through difficult experiences. Consequently, when she founded The Forgiveness Project in 2004, she set out to tell the real stories of people whose response to being harmed was not a call for revenge but rather a quest for restoration and healing.

The stories reflect the complex, intriguing and deeply personal nature of forgiveness, occupying a space of inquiry and authenticity rather than dogma or the need to fix.

In this session, Marina talks about the role of storytelling in the Forgiveness Project. At the heart of The Forgiveness Project is an understanding that restorative narratives have the power to transform lives; not only supporting people to deal with issues in their own lives, but also building a climate of resilience, hope and empathy.