Towards a Nonviolent World (ToNoWo) is a training for youth workers (supported by Erasmus+) to acquire knowledge and professional skills in nonviolence and peacebuilding, so that they can integrate these in their work. The first edition was held in August 2015 in The Hague (The Netherlands) and the second edition will be held in the UK. The second edition is shorter and also a little different in content, continuing on the best practises of the previous year and adjusting it as we saw fit. This year we will also work with a third trainer, adding her expertise to the program. The training will take place from the 18th to 27th of November, 2016, one hour from London at New Land Park. To find out how to get there, please download this document.

To apply, please go to the Application Form. 

Why ToNoWo?

Conflicts are part of our everyday life and could actually represent an opportunity for understanding one’s limits and potential, leading to growth. On the other hand, if not duly recognised and taken in consideration, violence can degenerate, draining our energies and leading to fights, and even radicalisation. The training team therefore recognises the need to create learning opportunities to facilitate the process of dealing with and solve conflicts nonviolently, both on a micro and macro level.

On the micro level we believe it is essential to support people to understand one’s internal conflicts (emotions, ethics, ways to cope with violence), to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, and to find the best practices to manage interpersonal situations.

On the macro level we witness everyday how fear and ignorance permeate our societies as people become more individualist building walls among cultures, neighbourhoods, even families. This polarisation brings masses to magnify stereotypes, giving rise to intercultural hatred.

We want to counter such radicalisation processes, helping participants to deconstruct prejudices and promote values of tolerance and inclusion. We will moreover offer them the space to consider the real contribution they could bring as agents of change Toward a Nonviolent World.

Learning outcomes

By various activities we will offer during the Training Course, participants will acquire:

• A better understanding of their own reactions to violence as a first step to define attitudes that will promote peace within one’s self and in the interactions with others.
• The ability to broaden their perspective taking in consideration their fellow participants’ points of view, as an exercise for their working practice with youth. They will learn the importance to value each opinion and to respect it in the process of pursuing a common goal.
• The capacity to analyse conflicts and define strategies to prevent or manage them: we will investigate the reasons for conflicts (lack of communication, stereotypes, assumptions, etc.) and then define the role that each of us can play toward a peaceful management of the situation, and reconciliation.
• Skills and practice on nonviolent communication together with a deeper awareness of interculturality as the necessary attitude in modern societies.
• The competence to study society and identify the violence nestled within it as a first step to define the attitudes and concrete actions to promote positive peace (e.g. campaigns).
• The ability to reflect on one’s learning process, to realise their strengths and weaknesses, and to define the steps for further development.
• New skills on non-formal learning methods to be included in their working practices.

Program

Day 1 – Introductions. What is violence and Nonviolencce?

Day 2 – What is violence and Nonviolencce?

Day 3 – Conflict and personal sphere

Day 4 – Conflict in the interpersonal sphere: exploring our stereotypes and style in conflicts

Day 5 – Conflict in the interpersonal sphere: practicing Conflict Transformation

Day 6 – Conflict in the social sphere: Case-studies, Human Rights and Social Justice

Day 7 – Conflict in the social sphere: taking action

Day 8 – Understanding Erasmus+ and planning new activities

The Training Course is open to Youth workers (trainers, facilitators, social workers, group leaders, teachers, activists, etc.)  from the partner countries who are interested and with a basic knowledge on Nonviolence and/or Peacebuilding.