Just as the days before, the participants gathered all together for a short time of meditation and a recap of the day before, before they split up in the two different groups.

For the Youth, the day’s topic was Peace. The topic of the first session was already practical, thinking about ways to create Peace: “Building Bridges of Trust”. The participants found out more about skills and their capacities for peace building during a Treasure Hunt around the compounds.
After the game, the youth discovered that only if they have Peace in themselves, they can transform the world around them. They discussed the different ways how this might be possible with each other and shared their experiences.
The session in the afternoon was called “Getting inspired on what we can do”. The youth split in small groups and designed posters with their ideas about how to make their contributions to their societies.

The Youth Leaders first session caught up with yesterday’s topic about their role as leaders: “Youth in action: How to facilitate the work of our youth groups: what to do and how?” They shared their experiences as Youth Leaders and how their groups work in their home countries, and they also got new ideas on how to organize their groups and what activities to do.
Going further, they learned more about how to spread the message of Peace in their communities and how to promote GNRC’s work in their country. The afternoon session was also about the spreading of the message of GNRC and how to do it: “Networking and Partnering”. The Youth Leaders learned more about networks, discovered the networks they have already built, learned what they can achieve through networks and how to make them work.

After the afternoon session, both groups got together again to exchange share about what happened in the different groups and to find out which seeds they have sown out so far and how they can continue to sow these seeds in future and keep them growing. In a time journey they imagined together how they want the Youth Groups Network to look in the coming years.

Before dinner, all participants gathered together for the official closing ceremony of the 2010 International Youth Workshop. After the dinner, the ceremony continued with presentations from all participants, sharing traditional dances, songs and food of their countries.

Continue reading International Youth Peace Workshop Tanzania 2010, Day 4

Friday, January 30, 2010 - Just as the days before, the participants gathered all together for a short time of meditation and a recap of the day before, before they split up in the two different groups.

Continue reading International Youth Peace Workshop Tanzania 2010, Day 4

Friday, January 30, 2010 - Just as the days before, the participants gathered all together for a short time of meditation and a recap of the day before, before they split up in the two different groups.

Continue reading International Youth Peace Workshop Tanzania 2010, Day 4

The day started for the participants with a meditation walk, before they all joined together to remember the things they learned yesterday and to get briefed about today’s program. After this, the participants split in to groups, such as yesterday: Youth and Youth Leaders.

Throughout the morning, the Youth looked deeper into the problematic violence causes and how to deal with them, or, more important, how to prevent violence: “What are those non-violent alternatives that we can use to make a difference in our societies?” After discussing this topic, the participants experienced a ‘violent’ situation themselves during a role-play. They all got handed out ‘passports’ and arrived at an airport, where all of them had to pass the immigration officer. While some of the youth had no problem to pass the control and got treaded in a very polite way, some were not let through without being given any reasons and were shouted at. After this experience they shared their feelings about it – not only how they experienced their own situation but also what they felt while looking how the other group got treated.

The Youth Leaders spent the morning with learning more about their role as Youth Leader: They shared their experiences of their work they do at home and shared ideas for activities and solutions for problems. By hearing about the other’s experiences the not only got new ideas how they can work as Youth Leaders, but also gained courage for their work, understanding that they are not alone and that the others also face difficulties. At the end of this session, the Youth Leaders were also provided with deeper knowledge about how to nurture ethical values and promote interfaith and intercultural learning.

In the afternoon, all participants went out together to visit GNRC Peace Clubs. First they went to a school, were they met members of the Peace Club, learned more about their activities just like drama and trash burning with an incinerator, and had the possibility to talk with the members. Before leaving, the guests planted a tree for the garden that the Peace Club Members planned to build in their school’s compound.

After visiting the Peace Club, the participants went to Dogodogo Center where they were welcomed with performances by the boys such as dances, acrobatics, football and jump rope. The participants also got the chance to talk to the boys.

From Dogodogo the youth went to visit the Peace Club of Jangwani High School. The members of the Peace Club informed them about their activities just as singing, song writing, arts and crafts. They also had prepared various songs for them.

The participants also went across the ferry to visit Kigamboni Peace Club where the members of the club presented their artistic skills. From their, the youth went to the beach where they had dinner. Before they went back to the venue, they enjoyed a bonfire at the beach with music and dancing.
 

Continue reading International Youth Peace Workshop Tanzania 2010, Day 3

The program of the 2nd day of the International Youth Peace Workshop started with a 30min meditation to prepare for the day and to gather all thoughts on the upcoming activities. After that, the participants gathered to re-think about the topics they discussed yesterday and the new experiences they have made. After a short briefing the participants split up in two groups: the Youth Leaders and the Youth.

During the morning the topic for the youth was "Acknowledge myself in relation to other's beliefs". With presentations, games and discussions, the Youth found out more about their own beliefs and how they shape their identity. After this, they discovered the other participants’ beliefs, the differences and similarities and reflected on their boundaries.
The Youth Leaders' topic for the morning session was "Myself". Just as the Youth they discovered the topic with different activities and presentations, answering questions such as 'Who am I?', 'Who are you?' and 'Who are we?'.

In the afternoon, the Youth learned more about what is happening in the world, why violence exists and how it can be prevented: "Understanding conflicts, violence and injustices around me". The participants not only learned basics about conflicts and conflict resolutions but could share their very own experiences with each other.
The topic for the Youth Leaders was split in to sections: "Our World - Discrimination, xenophobia, conflict and interculturation" and "Myself and the world - Interfaith and spirituality". During this afternoon session they found out more about the roots of discrimination and conflicts and what role interfaith dialogue can play to overcome those issues.

In the late afternoon the participants went to the book launch of "Emusoi, Masai Girls tell their stories" by GNRC/Dogodogo Centre at the Norwegian Embassy, where some of the girls where present and the youth could experience traditional Masai dances. After the reception, the participants went back to the venue to observe a panel about "Transforming the world: our contribution - Sowers of Change: personal stories about peace activists." The participants where Bishop Method Kilaini, Sr. Jean Pruitt, Ms. Dorit Shippin and Dr. Mustafa Ali. Agneta Ucko from Arigatou International was the moderator. The panelists shared experiences from their childhood, and how they became Peace Activists. The participating youth also got the possibility to ask questions.

To see pictures from the Workshop, check out the photo album!

Continue reading International Youth Peace Workshop Tanzania 2010, Day 2