2nd NVC workshop in Tanzania
Arusha, 15th – 20th April 2024
On 15th April 2024, 52 people from different organisations met for five days in Tanzania for a NVC training. It took place in the convent of St. Carolus in Arusha, the same peaceful location we had chosen two years earlier for the CNVC IIT.
One of the outcomes of my “Ruhpolding Workshops” is the participants’ desire to deepen NVC in their home countries. Here for example the workshop was arranged by Martha Dello and Sarah Kitileja who both have been in Germany, and at the CNVC IIT as well.
It was Montessori Tanzania who originally asked for the workshop. Thus, Montessori sent many of their teachers. Further participants were teachers from Tanzanian primary and secondary schools, from the NGO “Empowered Girls”, the NGO “Chat” from Kenia, churches and other child-oriented NGOs.
Trainers were Jacqueline Muller (USA) and myself, as well as six assistants with some experiences from previous NVC trainings.
These our assistants convey NVC in their home organisations or communities or churches. We wanted to give them a chance to present their NVC offerings, give and get feedback, and add further insights.
The whole workshop was framed by rememberings, stories, games and tools in the NVC awareness. Our activities were supposed to be a living experience, easy to transfer, and with fun for the children they work with.
The participants seemed very engaged, even in pouring rain under a tent.
They loved the smaller home groups after lunch for more individual sharing.
They learned a lot from the role plays, because we used examples from their lives.
They want more literature, want to create or deepen their practise groups.
They want another workshop for more teachers in Arusha.
More and more I see now the results of the workshop series in Germany „First Call for Children“ since 2007.
There, we have created a family-like relationship.
This training in Arusha showed the echo in one of the home countries, Tanzania.
I am satisfied, this development is very meaningful to me.
This is what Sarah Kitileja wrote after the workshop:
“On behalf of our organization and the entire team, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable contributions during the NVC Training in Tanzania. Your patience, collaboration, and unwavering commitment played a pivotal role in the success of the training. The participants themselves acknowledged the friendly teaching methodology and found the role-plays particularly helpful in clarifying concepts and supporting their learning. It’s truly fulfilling to know that we were able to meet the needs of our participants, and I am immensely proud of our collective achievement.
I am pleased to inform you that Montessori Community is dedicating resources to integrate Nonviolent Communication (NVC) into our programs as a testament to your efforts and support. While we understand that this is a gradual process, we are fully committed to practicing NVC for the betterment of our well-being and the communities we serve. Currently, we have initiated a new project in the Masai Community in Morogoro, titled “Hapana Marefu Yasiyo na Mwisho” (No Distance Has No End). This project aims to address harmful norms and values affecting gender equality, particularly those leading to early marriages. We will continue to incorporate NVC into our training efforts in this community. Additionally, we are currently in the process of finding a way to support and extend our training to Zanzibar. There, we have observed a keen interest among families and care giver in delving into NVC principles, especially following a successful initial session (introduction to NVC) we have done with them.
Looking ahead, I envision a future collaboration where you may have the opportunity to visit one of our projects and attend one of our Annual General Meetings for a breakout session.
With approximately 500 members in attendance, these meetings offer a prime opportunity for knowledge-sharing and learning. As the saying goes, “sharing is caring,” and I am confident that by sharing our experiences and insights, we can positively impact the lives of many individuals, helping them to nurture their feelings and needs while letting go of the unnecessary burdens.
I eagerly anticipate further collaboration and support from you both. The Montessori Community of Tanzania remains committed to serving as a bridge for its members, providing support and guidance in the practice of NVC.
Thank you once again for your dedication and support, and I wish you continued success in all your endeavors.”