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Over the last couple of years I’ve been thinking a lot about hope – after a series of research projects exploring the darker side of gratitude and loyalty, whether hope also has a shadow, seemed like a prescient challenge. For this project, we focused on schools. We selected 4 schools in the UK - two top independent schools and 2 state schools, one in a very deprived socio-economic area to see how a diverse group of pupils conceived of hope through a piece of art. The young people were free to reflect on what hope means in their lives, whether it’s a positive emotion and if creating a piece of art changed their thinking in any way.

I’ve been moved by the young people’s openness. Most of the pupils whatever their background, saw hope as a positive emotion and action; one girl spoke of her Christian faith as the ultimate source of hope in her life but most found hope in the support of their families and friends and have high aspirations for their lives. But their art works reflect the complexity of hope, its sorrows and joys with hope also seen as a burden. One girl who spoke of the lack of hope in her life created a small sealed jar with sprinkles inside but emphasised that the jar would remain sealed and the sprinkles would never come out. And for one boy the image of a flickering candle held in the palm of a frail hand meant that hope always had to be controlled.

As I think about the current global news headlines marking the 3rd anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the lurch further to the right in this week’s German elections and a dangerously fragile ceasefire in Gaza, it’s easy to see how such uncertainties can make us feel powerless, searching for glimmers which can restore hope. But none of us are powerless and while hope can’t take away grief and trauma, it can help us to re balance, inspire us to do something for others. Because our real lives aren’t lived in these sweeping headlines but among ordinary people around us, strangers, friends, colleagues and family – all of whom present moral opportunities.

By the end of this week, Muslims will mark the beginning of Ramadan a month in which the Prophet said ` the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed.’ The headlines of this month are fasting and forgiveness, but alongside the blessings and difficulties of this time, there’s the deeper challenge of whether we emerge as people who can be a source of hope for others.

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