Achievements. Our Stories.

What inspired you to join Truce 20/20 project?

At first I just wanted to see what it was about.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

I think my outlook toward handing my problems have changed I know due to this. I know have a greater understanding of emotional intelligence. I never thought such a common thing like anger was so profound and had stages in which it goes , etc…

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

I think there are too many to mention I have been to Wales and Slovakia with the British Council. In addition I recently went to Liverpool in order to uphold the banner of Truce 20/20 at international youth leadership conference.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I also volunteered to run an introduction session for the potential truce participants in group four. I found it extremely enriching because I remembered when I was in their chair. So I sought to give them a great explanation as to why they should join the course. I enjoyed it very much. I also represented the Truce project on the MC committee for Conflict and Change and presented at many local and national events.

How has this volunteering opportunity helped you develop personally?

It has helped me become a better facilitator, I did not comprehend the logistics of it. You have to time everything but still make it feel so natural and dealing with young people, you never know what happens next. We are way too indecisive!

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It certainly has, employers are always happy to hear that someone dedicates some of their time to assisting the development of their community.

Was the Truce 20/20 project everything you expected?

I did not have any expectation so you can say it preceded it.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I certainly will! I personally know that what the Truce project is doing is having a great impact within the community of Newham and I want to continuously be a part of this positive change.

What inspired you to join Truce 20/20 project?

The concept of the project sounded very new and original to me and it was a project dealing with issues that I had never been involved with before. I always like to try something new and Truce 20/20 provided me with a great experience.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

The changes that have taken place since completing the workshop is that I now know better how to personally deal with conflict situations, knowing what is the best way to help myself and try and help others in such situations. It’s taking what I have learnt and putting it to good use in my personal and professional life.

Did you take part in any volunteering activity? If so, what inspired you?

I have taken part in various volunteering activities including sitting on the Steering Group for Truce 20/20 and the Management Committee for Conflict and Change. I have helped facilitate at intergenerational community talks and local schools. My inspiration was simply being able to put my newly learnt skills into good use and better myself.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I enjoy all of my volunteering activities as they are all so different and you have so many new opportunities with Truce 20/20. I get to come out of comfort zone and gain confidence and work in a range of different settings with many different kinds of people. You gain life skills and meet people that have a big impact on your life for the better.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

I believe it has helped me improve my job prospects not simply because I have something to put on my CV or university application form, but it has helped me grow as a person and help me achieve my fullest potential. I would feel very confident to walk into a job interview and talk about all my experiences and volunteering activities with Truce 20/20 because they are all so relevant to everyday life.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

The project has helped me develop personally as it works on building up so many of our skills including communication, problem solving and more and these are all skills needed in the working world and we’ve already had the chance to use our skills and improve on them through training or volunteering.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

Being a Steering Group member and Management Committee member. Helping at intergenerational events and conflict resolution workshops in local primary and secondary schools. Conversations for Change with students from South Africa.

Was the Truce 20/20 project everything you expected?

The project was everything I expected and more. Thinking back it’s unreal on how many opportunities you have with Truce 20/20, one to meet so many different people and peace builders from all over the world but two the opportunities provided for you to better yourself.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

Yes, I definitely want to continue to be involved, simply because the project does such fantastic work on so many different levels, and it’s great knowing I can be part of that. It’s such a good way to meet new people, gain new skills and knowledge, that you just can’t go wrong.

What inspired you to join the Truce 20/20 project?

Speaking to some of the previous cohort groups of the project (aka Trucers), I was inspired to gain the chance to facilitate and hold events like they had done as well as learn about conflict resolution. It was interesting to hear how they had gone on to volunteer in schools, local events and even co-facilitating on the truce training. I wanted to continue on a path like them and one way to do that was to take advantage and be a part of the Truce team. I took the opportunity and thoroughly enjoyed the learning process.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

For me I was lucky because I didn’t only meet one peace builder but over five!, as a result of staying around after my cohort group had ended. It didn’t really make a change in my life but I felt inspired to change the way we look at conflict. I learnt that there can be several methods of promoting peace and resolving conflict, but you go through a journey. Listening to peacebuilder’s journeys was beautiful. It made me want to know more about international conflict, something I never really took interest in. I haven’t saved people lives like the peace builders had done, but it was an eye opener to the world of conflict in ways that I didn’t know existed.

Did you take part in any volunteering activity? If so, what inspired you?

I feel the luckiest because I’ve had so many opportunities to be involved in delivering workshops and facilitating events. I have delivered conflict resolution workshops to young people and adults, facilitated development inter-generational and inter-faith community development events, presented at local, national and even international conferences to small and large audiences. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to do so much.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

Mostly the confidence, a lot of people say that I have come a long way since I first started taking an interested. Truce has allowed me to use what I’ve learnt and apply it to the everyday world. So it doesn’t only improve job prospects, but studies and much more.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

Conflict! Being a part of the project means that we really go in depth into how conflict is a part of our lives, but we learn how to deal with conflict by using our own personal experiences. Personally, I think it is amazing to identify how we used to respond in our previous conflict situations and how we perhaps should have done. This allows you to develop a way of thinking when conflict arises again. And that alone, is a personal achievement that helped me develop the skills to future deescalate a conflict situation. This of course can help in both work and non-work related issues.

Was the Truce 20/20 project everything you expected?

I felt like I knew a lot about conflict when I started. I was privileged in the sense that I was given opportunities to actively promote conflict resolution across London. As the project continued I realised that there was a lot more to conflict than what I knew about. I was intrigued with the process of learning from others whilst they learnt from me. I was also oblivious to the fact that we never stop learning (the truce project helped me understand this), even if we go back into tasks that we are familiar with. Taking it to a new environment with different people presents a different learning outcome. That in itself gave me the ambition to learn, to take advantage of projects like Truce. It was incredible to later take our knowledge and look at international conflict situations.
The project gave me more than I expected. I am very thankful to the facilitators and coordinator of the Truce 20/20 project.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

When there’s an opportunity that involves Truce and Conflict and Change, there’s a chance to meet captivating individuals with an atmosphere of stimulating conversations and a chance to make a difference to the people around you. I have taken every opportunity that they have given me and I don’t see why that should ever stop.

What inspired you to join Truce 20/20 project?

Being able to meet an international peace builder from a conflict ridden country instantly attracted me to Truce. I also wanted to learn more about conflict and why it occurs in our individual lives, but also have an understanding of conflict on an international level. Truce was also a project in Newham which is my hometown and I always thought nothing ever goes on in this area, I was wrong. Once I heard and researched the Truce 20/20 project and how they are trying to change people’s perceptions of young people and improve Newham on different levels, I just had to sign up.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

I am more conscious of my temper and others too. This is definitely the first step towards a successful and fair conflict resolution. I made loads of new friends and I still meet them now, even though I graduated from Truce last year. I will be starting University in September and I want to read Politics and Truce has helped me get involved in voluntary work that is geared towards Politics, giving me an extra spark to write in my personal statement and CV.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

After learning all those mediation and conflict resolution skills, I felt I wanted to give something back to my community, no matter how small that may be at first. My first volunteering activity was at a Summer fete at Langdon school and I had to persuade two strangers to have a conversation with each other, which definitely improved my confidence and social skills. Getting praise from strangers on the day definitely inspired me to continue with voluntary work! Through Truce I also took part in a youth project with the Desmond Tutu foundation, where my group was able to use professional camera, microphones, the lot, to create a short film about anything we liked.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

Meeting people from different walks of life and learning how to use those furry microphones they use on television was a perk! I got to explore my creativity a little and I hadn’t done that since GCSE Art.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

I hope to read Politics in University and the projects and opportunities available at Truce allow me to explore this sphere further- such as the Tutu project, which allowed me to interview strangers on the street like a journalist.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

I have gained a lot more confidence in myself. I also feel more hopeful in life and that anything can be achieved, anything can be solved if you are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to do so. All of these would help anyone in their career and they’re valuable life skills too.

Was the Truce 20/20 project everything you expected?

Everything and so much more. I know have connections in South Africa, need I say more.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

The projects seem to get better each time I get involved so I will be involved with work at Truce in the near and long term future. Voluntary work makes me feel valued by the people I work with and that feeling makes me want to work harder at everything I do and achieve the best.

What inspired you to join Truce 20/20 project?

I have always had a passion for peacemaking/keeping and activities related to it. My dream is to one day work in the United Nations. The only problem I had was that I had the desire but none of the tools to help me start off, after hearing about Truce2020 from my friend I knew I had found my calling.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

From doing the peace builder’s workshop, so much has changed in my behaviour and perspective of life and others and all because I have come to learn so much about myself. Some may think what is the point learning more about yourself if you’re trying to learn how to resolve conflict? But I know one thing I have learnt is: if you don’t know and understand yourself then you have very little chance of helping yourself or others to resolve issues or identify the sources of conflict.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

My biggest inspiration for taking part in the volunteering activity was how I saw myself during the peace builder workshop and my facilitators. I saw myself as a caterpillar ingesting as much knowledge as I could, knowing that my goal would ultimately to be a mesmerising colourful butterfly like my facilitators. I thought at the end of my ‘Peacebuilder’s Workshop’ training, I must test my new wings and see how many people I can enchant with words of wisdom and peace.
It was that passion and worldly wisdom that inspired me to want to inspire and enlighten others.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I enjoyed the feeling of being on the other side. The privilege of sharing that knowledge to eager pupils and also the challenge of becoming a leader and a team player, really incorporating all those skills learnt.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

Yes, because I can put on my CV the extra skills I have in conflict resolution and this helps me stand out from other candidates. It makes my CV and profile a little more interesting than the common cliché.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

My role in the job I do puts me in constant and direct communication with customers and as a qualified customer care manager I really thought I was doing my job reasonably well. After completing the project I saw the massive change in the way I interacted with customers, the way I reacted to deliberate provocations. Whereas before I thought I was addressing my customers’ needs and helping them, I realised after my course that I, in all honesty, might have actually aggravated the issue in some cases.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

Although numerous things that were quite enjoyable occurred during the project, the main thing I can remember was the process of opening up, learning about others. It really was like watching a tiger lily come into full bloom. Learning to trust one another, something that is easy to put on paper yet so difficult to establish and achieve. But most of all, we got up to a lot of light hearted fun where the process of learning felt more like the most peaceful expedition in soul searching.

Was the Truce 20/20 project everything you expected?

I genuinely feel the project exceeded my expectations in the most positive ways. I thought at first I would be sitting for two hours having the most boring lecture about conflict resolution. It was far from that.
When I first met some of my fellow trucers, I thought “ oh oh, we’re in trouble. No way on planet earth are we going to achieve anything with all these moody looking people.” Again I was wrong, the way we all came together in the end, it felt as though I had a family I never wanted to leave.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will continue to be involved as much as I can, because working with Truce 20/20 has been one of the best projects I have taken part in. I know that I want to see other young people grow and develop, watching that transformation is so rewarding, feeling it as an individual in the process is the most awe-inspiring experience. My community means a lot to me and one of the best ways to preserve and improve it is by spreading the message that Truce 20/20 promotes tirelessly.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

What had initially been the deciding factor in joining the project was the prospect of learning about a variety of conflicts. Being in Truce taught me how to deal with local and national conflicts, as well as to understand the reasons for the international conflicts occurring in the world today. I am deeply interested in international conflicts and the intricate details surrounding their relations, and Truce 2020 had much to offer in that area. The person who had introduced me to Truce had gone to an international Peace Building conference in Turkey, and that interested me enough to apply.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

It wasn’t so much the changes that occurred than the understanding I gained. As a result I became more aware of the causes of a conflict, as well the different ways that one can deal with conflicts. It is not always the most obvious route that you must take, and I learnt that lesson in Truce.

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

Apart from the many sessions we had as a group, there was also an opportunity to go to a residential. This residential helped our group to become tighter knit, as well as training us on how to conduct our own workshops. It was an extremely inspiring two days. Also I was able to go to a primary school with two leading facilitators, Chris and Natalie, and facilitate a workshop about conflict in the community to a class of Year 4 children.

A group of us were also lucky enough to be taken to the House of Lords to sit in on a conference that had many international peacebuilders present, as well as ambassadors.

I had taken a brief hiatus, but when I came back I was fortunate to sit in a talk led by a Sudanese peacebuilder. It was a fantastic experience. To be able to see everything we were learning about being practised was a wonderful feeling. In addition this woman was so strong and had made such a change in her homeland Sudan that it made me believe that even one person, given the passion and determination, can make a difference in the world. She gave me faith in myself and determination to make my own mark on the world.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

Children have a very black-and-white view of life. Adults seem to lose the ability to see so clearly the older they get! And yet these little children know more about life than so many of us. I loved the fact that the more they learned from me, the more I found myself learning from them. It was an extremely fulfilling time.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

I suppose it has; in the future I will work in some form of international conflict centre or international charity, and Truce 2020 has opened up many opportunities for me. I am able to meet like-minded people, and those who have similar aspirations.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

It was everything I expected and everything I did not. I expected to gain knowledge out of it, which is what I always aim for in any project I immerse myself in. However I managed to create important links, and make friends. I didn’t expect the change in myself. I became more focused in what I want to do, and more determined to succeed.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will definitely continue to be involved in every possible aspect of Truce 2020. It has been an important learning block in my developing as a peacebuilder and I love being involved. I can hardly wait for what Truce has in store for me in the future!

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

Truce has provided a young person like me with an opportunity to be a part of and make a difference to my local community. The project encouraged me to discover new life skills through workshops such as leadership and communication skills. But most importantly it gave me the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Lastly it encouraged local young people from a range of cultures and religions to participate in the project and helped to push local young people to work together despite their race.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

It has provided me with an opportunity to take part in interactive workshops in local primary schools, which has been fantastic. I have always wished to pursue a career in teaching and this opened the door for me to experience some first-hand classroom experience. Furthermore, I have also been able to take part in activities which deal with the community on a local, national and international level.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do a workshop with other Truce graduates in Wales to a group of young people from Poland and Germany who come to the UK to work in a volunteer sector. More recently I have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in an internship programmes at Caux in Geneva. This will be for one month and will enable me to progress with my leadership skills. Moreover I will be able to see at first hand what discussions take place at world peace conferences and see how we as an international community can make a difference for the world for the better.

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

I worked in a number of primary schools, facilitating conflict and mediation workshops. I have also taken part in conferences speaking on behalf of young people and the changes we would like to bring. Most recently I have been given the opportunity to take part in an internship in Geneva, which will provide me with the opportunities and courses in leadership and intercultural skills.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I have very much enjoyed every aspect of the programme, especially designing and facilitating workshops. I have learned a great deal in conflict resolution and mediation, which now makes me think twice in daily life situations. Most importantly I have enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends from a range of different ethnic backgrounds. Together we in the Truce group have encouraged each other to fulfil our life ambitions and have been able to watch each other develop, grow and blossom as individual young people.

The volunteering activity has helped me grow and develop my life skills and to take part in various opportunities; such as Geneva. I loved the fact that the programme was very interactive, fun and very hands on. This made it so much more enjoyable and encouraged us young people to finish the programme.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

The Truce 2020 programme has made me evaluate my future and because of the numerous voluntary projects offered after the training, it has helped me decide that I would like to pursue a career as a primary school teacher. On the other hand it has also encouraged me to think about working abroad for a voluntary organisation and making a difference within the international community, big or small. I have always wanted to travel and the Truce programme has offered me some fantastic opportunities for me to do this.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

It was everything I expected and ten times more. At first I was unsure what I would actually gain in participating in the workshops. But Truce has provided me with some fantastic voluntary work that I would never have dreamed of. Moreover it encouraged me to pursue to work towards my career in teaching and working with children.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will always be part of the programme for as long as it continues to run. It is a very inspirational programme for young people, especially for those living in East London. It provides young people with an interactive facility and active fun workshops. Moreover it gives young people an opportunity to make new friends and to make positive change to their community. For those young people who are unsure about their future or their career path, Truce provides an opportunity for all to take part in many local, national and international activities.

What makes Truce 2020 so different from other youth-based projects is that it offers diversity. It gives young people the opportunity to expand their skills from a local level into an international level. It opens up doors for young people to discover the world and of different races and cultures.

Truce 2020 is funded partly by Peace Direct, which offers a new prospect into the programme of peacebuilding. It provides young people to meet international peacebuilders from hot conflict zones to share their experiences. Today many young people face conflict in some form or another, the project enables us on how to deal with conflict and strategies to overcome this. As long as the Truce 2020 project keeps running, I will always be a part of it, as it has so many wonderful and encouraging opportunities for young people.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

The thing that inspired me the most about Truce 2020 is that I got a chance to work with young people across Newham with completely different experience and backgrounds and helped form a little family within ten weeks.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

I am more confident to walk away from a conflict or to try and resolve it then I used to be, and this training has showed me how I can use my anger and use it in a positive way rather then a negative way.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

My older sister, she complete the training and because she loved it so much she always kept talking about it and recommended me to go, so when I went to the first meeting the staff members were so supportive and helpful they inspired me to join because they showed they wanted to make a change and help young people in Newham.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

The residential was what I enjoyed the most because we got a chance to live with each other for two days and have some intense conversation that built us closer to each other.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has help me a lot with my job prospects because I am more confident to talk to discuss serious matter with a group of people.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

Yes definitely is has improved my communication skills and mostly my teamwork skills.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

We got to talk about a lot of sensitive issues so it helped us gain better understanding of each other and we got to meet an international peacebuilder which was amazing because he inspired us more to make a change and that if you want to make a change you can.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

No it was so much more then I expected it be.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will definitely still be involved because after completing the training there has been some great opportunities that have been given to me, for example I am on the Steering Group and I have just sent an application form for a ten-day international residential.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

I was first introduced to Conflict and Change when I was in Year 8. I went through a three day peer mediation training with two members of Conflict and Change’s staff. At the end of the training I decided to do a bit more work with them and joined other organisations. When I was 17 I got a phone call from Klaudia asking if I was interested in joining the Truce 2020 project by recommendation from a friend, I thought it would be really interesting to do something different, so I agreed to jump on board.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

Before I even got involved with the Peace Builder’s Workshop, I would ‘dive in’ head first when involved in a conflict. I used to think that it was right to shout off my mouth so that I could be heard and that made me think that I would fit in properly with my friends and they wouldn’t see me as a weak link if I never stood up for myself in that way.
However, I learnt that attacking the person would not make things better, it would only make things worse. I am now able to tackle conflict in a different way by approaching the person involved in a mature way.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

I personally think that it’s not all about the money when giving back to your community. I live in an area where there aren’t a lot of things young people can do in the area and because I don’t want to be one of the young people not doing anything, I wanted to make a change to how I live in my community.
I had an opportunity to go to local primary schools to deliver workshops over an eight-week period. The little kids made me feel very overwhelmed because they were coming up with such great grown-up answers and they really appreciated the work I was doing.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I was looking forward to coming to the school every morning and knowing that the kids were excited and ready for the morning activity. They were very grateful and they showed a lot of initiative that I enjoyed.
I loved reading the comments that they made on their evaluation sheets, it really did make me feel that they listened and valued the work we did.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has given me the chance to get out and meet people from different backgrounds. I work with a group of people and I don’t necessarily open up and talk because I feel I’m not a big character like them, but I’ve learnt that I have to work around and cope with different people and work as a team because it makes a difference.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

When I would be in a situation where I was not pleased with something or someone, I would say what was on my mind and how I felt; despite of how the other person would feel. Now that I have been in this project I have become more aware of other people’s thoughts and feelings and I think before I say something that may impose pain on others.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

I have been involved in quite a few workshops; I have been given a chance to facilitate to range of young people from primary schools to people above my age. So far, my favourite has been delivering workshops in primary schools because it gave me a chance to try out my skills I developed with the children and got very good feedback at the end of the eight-week programme.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

It was everything I expected and a lot more. At first when I started, I didn’t think I would make friends with everybody and I was unsure that I would actually speak out and be heard by others. Truce has provided me with some of the most incredible voluntary work that I’ve ever had and I didn’t think I would get any opportunities after the project. Although, working with young people isn’t what planned to do with my career, it has played a big part in my life and I can honestly say that I would become a part-time youth worker any day because of the experience I have been through.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

Yes, I will definitely continue to be involved, I made a promise to myself which is to never give up on something I love doing, no matter what I was doing in terms of education. I want to get a degree in sports psychology but I would still want to work with ‘Peacebuilders’ or other organisations based around young people. This project is an inspirational programme for young people; it gives young people the opportunity to make new friends and to make positive change to their community. It also gives young people a chance to work around London, around the whole of England and even in different countries!

Shakir Kamali, 21, spent most of his teens in street gangs and suffered serious consequences. He’s since turned his life around. Now a youth worker, Shakir helps inspire other young people. In summer 2008 he took part in our Truce 2020 training project which teaches peacebuilding and leadership skills to young people in Newham.

In those days the street life used to be territorial – for example this side of the street/the other side of the street. I used to be quite an active member of the whole group, the one that hyped the others up. I started in Tower Hamlets but when I started to lead the proper street life I was all over  Newham and out of London. I started the street life from 11 and properly got out when I was 17.

My family are well educated and had high expectations of me. Two incidents led me towards the street life. When I was 13 I used to bunk school, do dodgy stuff and my brother found out. He took all the nice stuff out of my room – my computer, TV etc and I ran away, staying for 2/3 nights driving around up north. The second time I was going into Year 10, my first GCSE year, and my family wanted me to get my act together. They got physical and didn’t listen to me.

I was kicked out of the family home at 15. I started working and juggling on the street, making dodgy money. My life wasn’t going anywhere. There came a point at 17 when I was struggling with life, that I thought I have two choices, this path or the other. I realised I had to stand on my own two feet and rely on myself. When I had no money, wearing the same clothes with no roof over my head, I thought – where are my friends now?

It was my youth worker that really helped me get out of the street life. I told him everything. He’d never judge and was neutral. He’d been there himself so he understood how I felt. People come out of that life only when they are ready. But when they do I think they can be the best people to help others still in that world. Someone who has gone through street life can properly understand, they have experience of the reality. A person who hasn’t been there only has theory.

When things get tough now I know I have to keep going. I don’t have a role model. I go to different people for different stuff. Music helps to keep me calm and I enjoy working with young people as a youth worker – it helps me focus on their issues rather than mine. I know how important a non-judgemental support is.”

Janine’s 20 and did her volunteering opportunity at the ‘Breaking the Cycle’ event.

“We did a workshop and had a discussion as well. We played a game called Twister, where we identified different types of people that we have conflict with and looked at different people’s views on conflict. We also did a ‘sun shines on’ exercise to get people moving about. Even though I was nervous I really enjoyed it. I had a good group – they all spoke and made a contribution. I got to work with someone I hadn’t before and we became friends after. It was the first time I got to put my knowledge into practice”.

Has the volunteer opportunity helped your personal development?

Yes, through my volunteering I got my paid role as a youth worker. It gave me good experience in the field that I wanted to get into. I knew one of the people at the workshop and he told me, “I really enjoyed it; I still get into fights but not as much”.

What was the hardest part?

Learning about conflict – at first you always think you are right in an argument. A challenging part is where the course teaches you not to be on a high horse, it makes you self aware – appreciating that sometimes, I’m not always right. I really enjoyed doing it though and feel I learned a lot of new skills and would volunteer again.

Was the accreditation element important for you?

It helps in terms of being recognised for the work you put in but I would have done it anyway.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I’d like to stay involved and do more volunteering.

Jasmine Simeron, 19 years old.
Volunteering opportunity – facilitation of ‘Peace builder’s workshop’, a 10-week programme delivered to 20 young people aged 16-21 years old from London Borough of Newham.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

Living in an area where there are lots of young people with not much to do, it’s difficult trying to take the opportunity to get out of it. I also like to meet lots of different people who I otherwise wouldn’t engage with. This is important in my area because there is racial segregation and lots of crime.

This project is for everyone to come together with common goals, bring peace to our community and also have fun.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

There are lots of things I enjoyed about this activity. Mainly I’ve met so many fantastic people that I might not have met otherwise – young people that do all sorts of volunteering around Newham. I have trained some people who have been through so much, from different backgrounds, who did not have the same opportunities as me.

You can learn from their experiences and see how you can improve. It made me realise how strong people of my age can be. You don’t really get the opportunity to speak to people about their experience and about their life if you’re not making the effort to ask them.

I have also enjoyed being able to deliver workshops and presentations around Newham and other places, and develop skills to speak in public. After this course I am so much more prepared to speak in front of the people.

Being able to facilitate on this course has also given me an insight from the different perspective, whereas before I was the young person on the course. Being able to be the facilitator and giving my peers knowledge and seeing them change from the beginning of the course, when they are shy and don’t know what to say, to the end where they know everybody… it is just so emotional.

Being able to make a difference in someone’s life is definitely worth doing. Facilitating gives you the skills you can use in the everyday life; like when you are going to an interview – you learn what is appropriate. You have much more confidence in what you are saying. And I think to be able to go to an interview and do well you need some confidence and conviction of what you are saying. Young people get these skills from facilitation.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has given me the chance to get out of my confidence zone a little bit more and meet people from different backgrounds. Doing something you wouldn’t necessarily do with the people you would not necessarily do it with. At work you have to learn to cope with different people and work as a team so it was really worth it.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

This project has definitely helped me to develop personally in many ways. For example, I am more aware of people’s differences now – before I was a bit selfish. I also have much better communication skills and listening skills now.

I have got so many role models, even people who are younger than me. I respect them so much more for what they have been through and how much progress they have made. I am looking forward to seeing them in few years and seeing how much progress they have made due to this course. It’s fantastic to be a part of that.

When you are going to a job it is essential that you can work well as part of a team as well as by yourself, to understand and empathise with people. Now I have much better people skills that this course teaches you. Being able to facilitate to lots of different people of different backgrounds and education standards opens your eyes to see that not everybody is the same.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

I have been involved in many workshops, facilitating a range of young people from secondary schools to above my age, 25 years old. I have delivered many presentations to large audiences, addressing the issues of peacebuilding and the importance of peer-to-peer education. So far, my favourite has been delivering the ‘Peace Builders’ Workshop’ to two groups of 20 Truce participants.

Was the project everything you expected?

It was everything I expected and so much more. I can see that this project has trained over 100 young people and the people are still coming, they become actively involved.

I got so close with people I did the training with. I would never have expected it to be a course like this. I had high expectations but it had exceeded them. I am glad to be part of it. I would like to see how far it goes.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will continue to be involved. It has got opportunities that young people need. If I need support I can get it from Truce. It is not a project where you can just come for a few weeks and then forget about it. If you want to do more you can, if you want to do less you can, if you need a break you are always welcome to do that. It’s fantastic.

It is an inspirational programme that a lot of people should take part in. I’d like to be involved to see that change in many, many others.

What impact do you think this project has had on your local community?

People get so many different things from Truce because there are so many aspects to it. People come to this course to build their confidence, to make friends, to learn new skills, and some people would like to learn how to deal with violence.

Through the training, so many young people have been given many opportunities they might not otherwise have. They go on to facilitate groups, go to school to deliver workshops, to be positive role models so the younger people have someone to look up to, someone who has done something good with their lives. The project will definitely help young people who are not in education later on.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

I was invited by a friend to come and join a project in Newham, where I would learn conflict resolution and mediation skills. He said to me that this will benefit me since I am a psychology and counselling enthusiast. I was very inspired after the first meeting to keep coming, when I realised that:

• We were a large group of young people;
• I was learning things that are valuable but very hard to teach through games and activity;
• I was learning about myself; and
• Nice food was provided during the break.

I am always interested with anything to do with learning about my self, or helping people or achieving something with others.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

Since doing the Peace Builder’s Workshop, I am more self aware. I am quick to identify when I am getting angry and now able to respond rationally rather than react on impulse. I’ve also been complimented on how empathetic I am or try to be. I rarely get into conflict situations and when I do, they are not like they used to be. I used to argue until I felt like I was equal or the one that came on top. But now, I understand that conflict with people arises when two or more parties have different needs or ideas that are not being met. Understanding the other side’s feelings and meeting their needs or making some kind of truce, is likely to extinguish conflict.

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

I was involved in anger management workshops in many schools in the Borough, and I delivered workshops and presentations about Truce 2020 in various places around the country.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

The travelling and the company.

How has this volunteering opportunity helped you develop personally?

Personally I have gained so much. I am more confident in addressing conflict and speaking in loud crowds. I am more willing to be corrected, and I love to speak to people more.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has definitely improved my job prospects. I am currently studying counselling, and being able to say that I’ve done so much at such a young age makes me look good. I remember my lecturer saying to me that she is not even surprised to hear this, as she sees me as someone who will be prominent when it comes to improving people’s character flaws and resolving conflict.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

The Truce project was more than I expected. I made new friends and have learned transferable life skills that have changed me and my relationships for the better.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will be there for any mission that Truce embarks on, if I am available and they need me. Amongst everything I have learned, I now know and believe that one person can inspire change. That person can be me, through Truce.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

I was inspired to join Truce 2020 because I wanted to see a change within myself and to experience making new relationships with different types of people I have never had the chance to know somewhere else.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

I have become less critical of myself and now more able to make changes within myself and the way I treat others I may have conflict with. All in all, I have learned how to become more confident to just do what I need to do.

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

Since completing the training with Truce 2020, I have had several opportunities to take part in workshops held at primary schools and also other organisations, helping to facilitate and inform young children and even young adults about different types of conflict within their everyday lives, and how they can go about dealing with their issues. Through Truce 2020, I have also been given the chance to partake in a residential visit to Scotland with another charity, meeting and liaising with other young people from other conflict zones around the world.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

What I loved the most about the volunteering activity is that I now have the chance to share all that I have learned to others around me for the rest of my life. I also love the sense of realisation and responsibility.

How has this volunteering opportunity helped you develop personally?

Before I would say exactly what I think or see, regardless of how the other person would feel. Now I think before I say something that may inflict pain on others. I am now also more able to take charge of a situation and be a more confident leader.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

Yes I am now more comfortable to talk about myself in front of a crowd, allowing me to sell myself more successfully to employers. I also know that in the workplace I have leave personal issues to one side and adopt a professional cooperative attitude.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

I expected to meet different people through joining Truce but I didn’t expect to be able to like all of them, which I do. Also I know that with age comes maturity, but with Truce 2020 it comes quicker.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

Yes. In some ways Truce has inspired me to be a better person and has taught me that self discipline is a vital part of growing up. It has been good for my self esteem. I would love to stay involved to continue informing young people about self awareness while they are still young and more adaptable to change.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

I was inspired to join the Truce 2020 project because I heard about it at my youth centre and thought it was something that I would not mind doing. I could see myself being involved in helping out the community and having fun at the same time. The last thing that attracted me to truce is the possibility that it would give me new life experience, help me meet new people and gain skills to better myself at the same time.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

There have been many changes that have taken place in my life since the Peace Builder’s Workshop. I have learnt to appreciate what I have because not everyone is as lucky as me. It has also taught me that one person can make a big difference in the world.

What kind of volunteering activity did you take part in after completing the training?

The activities I have taken part in since graduating from the programme include volunteering at Ravencroft Primary school where I took part in the ‘Valuing each other’ programme. During this time Natalie (lead trainer) and I facilitated sessions with the children about bonding with each other, communication, team work and valuing everyone. This was one of the best experiences for me as it was something I had never done before and seeing the little kids’ faces and how they looked up to me was amazing as it made me feel valued.

Since then I have continued volunteering. I was involved in a presentation at the Conflict and Change AGM, which involved me talking to many friends, staff, volunteers and managers of Conflict and Change. During this once in a lifetime experience there was an international peacebuilder from Mozambique present who enlightened us with his personal experience. I have also been part of the Truce 2020 Steering Group where a group of us work together to improve the Truce experience for future volunteers. Through Truce I have also been involved in a Steering Group for Newham.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

On a personal level I feel I have become more responsible. The way I see things, the world, is different now. Before I wasn’t open to things, I was just used to Newham. Now I see there are other opportunities in life and that one person’s actions can go on to benefit many other people.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

I am hoping to start University by the end of the year. I included my experience from Truce 2020 in the UCAS application, which I am sure helped in getting my offers. The Truce course has also given me practical work experience and has inspired me to continue volunteering in community work.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

The course exceeded my expectations. I was expecting it to be quite formal, writing etc, a bit like being at college. However it was learning, having fun and gaining skills all at the same time. We were respected as adults, instead of just being told what to do. We were encouraged to find our own ‘answers’ and reach our own conclusions about how to manage conflict and resolve situations in life.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will definitely continue to be involved in Truce, one way or another, because it is something that I enjoy being part of and always will. I still hope to gain more skills and knowledge. By sticking with Truce, I believe I will not only be benefiting myself, but the world.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

I was inspired to do Truce through a mini course that I had taken part in my youth work. It was at level one and only touched on the base lines of conflict and change. Through this training, I was made aware of my behaviour and reactions around conflict which had never come to my attention before. I was very surprised and eager to learn more about myself in order to develop my skills in all aspects. I then came into the taster day, and signed up to do the course…and as they say the rest is history!

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

The changes that have taken place in my life as a result of doing the Peace Builder’s activity are that I am now more aware, which puts me in control of my reactions or responses. It has also made me more confident in working with other types of young people from across the globe as well as my community, because of the opportunities I’ve come across whilst volunteering for Truce.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

I had previously taken training in Conflict Resolution, and I was interested to develop my skills in this field and take it further. The trainer recommended me to attend a taster day with Truce 2020, and through the taster day I was able to sign on.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I mostly enjoyed being part of a group and discovering what affects other young people in regards to conflict. I also liked finally being able to learn how to be in control when in a disagreement, and learning the knowledge gained in terms of conflict resolution.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has definitely made my CV look more positive and has enabled me to take part in other volunteering trainings abroad.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

It has developed me personally everywhere – from home life, to work, friends and even in terms of education. This course has made me more aware of how I am around others.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

I am a member of the Steering Group, which is always fun to meet up, catch up and see what types of opportunities there are and to get involved. I delivered a workshop to some of the charity’s donors to see how they dealt with conflict. I also got involved with another charity whose aim is to challenge young people in regards to stereotyping.

Was the project everything you expected?

Not really, it was better. I thought you would just get trained and be off with your certificate. But the trainers help you develop even further through confidence and any other personal issues you might want to work on. They also support you in other areas such as education and work through their networks.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

Yes! Because I enjoy the team I volunteer with and absolutely love the opportunities that come out of it. I also want to pass on my knowledge to other young people and make a difference.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

At first I wasn’t too sure about the project because my friend suggested it to me and I wasn’t fully aware what it was about, so when I found out what it was really about I was automatically hooked, my inspiration came from the determination of the people that worked on Truce 2020, their constant motivation made me feel that I shouldn’t refuse a great opportunity.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

A great deal of change has taken place, not just in me but the people that I am close to, for example my family and also my friends. I have taken what I’ve learnt and used it to my advantage so that I can play a positive role in my community and also be a positive role for my younger sister.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

The skills that I have learnt in the project inspired me to volunteer, because I wanted other young people to see how great and beneficial the project really is and it also felt great that I passed my own knowledge and experiences to the younger generation and I hope that I was a help to them.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I love working with children and seeing how they interpret the skills being taught. Interacting with the children was fun and the fact that I’m facilitating to the children and that they are taking on board what I say made me happy.

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

The project has given me not only the experience of how to deal with my own self but also has given me the chance to work with others in a team. I learn from others and from myself, it’s given me an insight in what I would like my career to be based on.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

The project has helped me personally because I can now say that I have worked with different kinds of people and also learnt a lot from them individually. It has also given me the determination to use the skills and experiences I’ve learnt and use them at work. I’m sure my future employers will greatly benefit from them.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

I contributed in many workshops and also volunteered as a Truce intern which I find most exciting and also very beneficial for myself as it will help me to find future employment. I have volunteered as a facilitator at schools, co-delivering workshops, putting my new skills into practice. I’m also part of the Truce Steering Group; this is where some of the young people who have graduated from the project get together and discuss how to make the project more interactive and exciting for more young people.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

To be honest it was nothing that I expected, I expected a bunch of troubled young people sitting in a circle looking depressed and being told what’s right from wrong, but I was totally wrong. The atmosphere of the Truce sessions is always uplifting and inspiring, fun, exciting, educational and also very friendly.

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

Yes definitely, I’m currently still involved in doing some more voluntary work with the project, I enjoy working with the people in Truce and also enjoy meeting new people and getting involved with new opportunities.

What inspired you to join Truce 2020 project?

The very prospect of learning new ways to approach and consequently reduce conflict in high conflict areas was indeed a primary inspiring factor of the Truce 2020 project for me. Also the fact that I would be working alongside a wide range of people who live in similar neighbourhoods to mine was truly inviting.

What changes have taken place in your life as a result of doing the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’?

Well I would say as a result of the Peace Builder Workshops I have been able to see potential changes in my area and many other areas. I believe I now have a more positive nature about me, and also an optimistic energy that I could use to inspire people. Furthermore, before I took part in the workshops I had a very turbulent level of confidence, so to speak, but I believe I now find it easier to maintain a sufficient level of confidence.

What inspired you to take part in the volunteering activity?

I was drawn in by the idea of working with the young people from South Africa because it was intriguing learning about the similarities and differences of their community compared to Newham. Also the technical element to this volunteering opportunity was key to me taking part.

What did you enjoy about this volunteering activity?

I enjoyed every aspect of this activity because it was different and inviting. I felt so welcome by everyone I worked with! I also loved going out and filming in my own area although it was a big challenge. The togetherness was GREAT! Big up UBUNTU!!!

Has it helped you improve your job prospects and if so, how?

It has helped me improve my job prospects in the sense that I would love to do more work in and around my community. My confidence has improved as previously mentioned, and I’m overall just more positive, which would inevitably open up job prospects.

How has this project helped you develop personally and in ways that might help you at work?

Confidence-wise I have opened up more. I’m more expressive I believe, and I’m true to what I say which is important for most jobs. The project has also helped me develop more in terms of working in small groups and allowing others to get their opinions across.

What sort of things did you get up to on the project?

I was involved in filming, directorial work, editing, group discussions (community conversations), organising themes as a group and facilitation of conflict resolution workshops.

Was the Truce 2020 project everything you expected?

The project was indeed everything I expected and more!

Will you continue to be involved? Why?

I will most definitely continue to be involved with Truce 2020 because I love working with people who all want the same outcome for their community and have lots of ideas to contribute in order to make a change. Personally, I want to make a change.