Recovery from calamity does not involve restoration of the status quo but instead requires development of pathways leading forward to possible and preferred futures. In response to both man made and natural disasters, individuals and collectives face the challenge of “What now? What next?” given all that is damaged, lost or irrevocably changed. We are witness to profound and unanticipated disruptions of all sorts playing out again and again around the globe. Compelling questions and concerns arising from this stream of disasters include: what helps people cope with disaster? What aids in recovery? What factors support capacity for individuals and communities to build positive futures ‘out of the ashes’? This presentation considers personal narratives of those whose lives were interrupted by war, focusing on their views of how, out of loss and disruption, they have found positive paths forward, developing successful and meaningful lives.
In a moderated panel discussion, 5 individuals of varying ages whose lives were swept up in the chaos of the Balkan Wars will share personal narratives and then discuss the influence of various factors they perceive as relevant to re-establishing equilibrium, success and meaning following the unwelcome and traumatic interruption of war. Among the factors considered: personal characteristics, family and community context, age at which war disrupted/impacted their lives, opportunities for action, resources and support/aid from others, conscious strategies of recovery, sense of meaning and self determination, perceived role of serendipity or luck and role of faith and/or the realm of the spiritual. purpose of fostering multi-ethnic community building in the region.