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- Jun 2010Isha is selected for the ‘ The Caux Conference’ in Switzerland! LESS
- Are we proud or are we proud?!?
We’ve got another fantastic news – our lovely Isha Khan has been successfully selected for ‘The Caux Interns Program’ held in Switzerland, where she will MOREdevelop her leadership skills and will experience working in international teams of volunteers for a period of one month during this summer.
The Caux Conference Centre is a unique international forum for trust-building initiatives, and the Interns Programme offers young people the opportunity to play an integral role in the Centre’s summer programme. With a strong multicultural makeup (over 60 Interns from 20 different countries in 2009), the Caux Interns Program aims to offer an experience that challenges the way we look at the world and our role in it.
I believe Isha will be an asset to the Caux Interns Programme and her interest in making a positive change in the world will be greatly enhanced through her participation.
- Jun 2010Geurda and Aneeka take part in the ‘School for Changemakers’! LESS
- Truce veterans Geurda Bondonga and Aneeka Ariyo, took part in a week long international conference held in Liverpool organised by Initiatives for Change, where they have expanded on their leadership MOREskills and shared their experiences of developing varied peacebuilding projects with young people from all over the world.
Each day commenced with a full gathering of course members, which was addressed by one or more individuals who had a powerful story to tell of how they have been able to effect real change. Stories were drawn from the worlds of business, politics or political action, environmental issues, community action and education and offered ideas on how to discover one’s own identity and ‘calling’ in the world.
Aneeka and Geurda said how ‘inspirational and motivating’ their experience was and how much they enjoyed meeting like minded young people from all over the world. Aneeka kept sending me messages how much she loves it there, I wonder if they missed the train back to London on purpose…..
- Jun 2010Jamine receives ‘The Trainer of the Year 2010’ award! LESS
- Do you need professional 'cheerers' in your future events? Do you need someone who can clap reeeeeaaally loud and cheer and whistle even louder?
Well, look no further!!
We have a MOREfantastic team of Truce 20/20 graduates, who came to support our Jasmine in receiving her 'Trainer of the Year' award at last night's Peerlink ceremony.
As always, it was a fantastic event, full of wonderful young people from all over England, who are very passionate about conflict resolution and mediation. As you can imagine, we were so proud when our Jasmine got up on stage and very gracefully received her award. ( At this point, the C&C team was producing streams of tears of happiness - no surprises there, Safa was doing some ‘unusual’ sound that is used for cheering in Somalia, Korede, Ahmed, Mark were clapping and shouting like it was coming out of fashion….what can I say, it was brilliant!)
Oh, wouldn’t want to forget- Jasmine's mum was standing right in the middle of the auditorium - clapping, shouting and waving..
Like our hands weren't hurting enough, this was followed by our Sohail receiving an award as a 'Peerlink Volunteer of the Year', which he truly deserves.
It was a fantastic evening for many reasons, but the one that stood out for me the most was that our young people took a real pride in being part of the Truce 20/20 project.
Thank you Truce 20/20 participants, you are amazing and we are really privileged to see you shine wherever you go.
- Jun 2010Burton (finally!) gets the opportunity to shine! LESS
- Burton Assell has become the sixth graduate from Truce 20:20 Cohort 7 to put his skills into practicing by joining Selina Larsen, of Conflict and Change, delivering a Big Up Cool Down MOREat Brampton Manor Secondary. The 6 week program took off to a lively start on 17th June, with Burton wasting no time getting the group on his side, and proved a natural at drawing quieter members of the group out of their shells. A lively group with a good mix of characters, the programme promises to be a fulfilling one and with Burton at the helm the group are in safe, and comedic hands.
- Jun 2010 600 participants in a week!! LESS
- 24th – 27th May saw Truce graduates Flo Turay, Halima Muhammad, Jamal Farah, Jasmine Simeron, Maryam Yaqub, and Natasha Aldonza, collectively deliver workshops to over 600 pupils at Stratford school. Participants MOREand trainers alike shone in the challenging and lively atmosphere of Stratford’s Healthy Living Week, where we explored conflict and our responsibility and relationship with it.
Praise goes out especially to Jasmine and Halima who raised the bar by facilitating sessions without the support of a fellow Trucer, though all facilitated with enthusiasm and flare.
- May 2010Natasha and Mark train MySI project! LESS
- 22nd May saw Trucers Mark Afrifa and Natasha Aldonza take their skills and enthusiasm out of Newham to deliver a presentation and workshop to members of My Social innovation.
Unlike MOREmany of our follow on opportunities that take place in secondary schools, the participants of this workshop were practitioners in the field of youth engagement and outreach, making the workshop just that little bit more challenging. On the day, however, any nerves or reservations that Natasha and Mark may have been feeling were well hidden as they stormed through the afternoon with great success and confidence.
Personal stories from both the participants and young facilitators enriched our discussions and exploration of conflict, creating a vibrant and informative session, enjoyed by all.
- May 2010Fatma shines at St Bon's! LESS
- Fatma Omar, of cohort 7, has risen to the challenge this week, taking on a lively all-male group of pupils at St Bonaventure's School. She waisted no time in showing that she was MOREperfectly capable of controlling the group, throwing herself into each exercise.
This was the first of six workshops in the school, and Fatima has already shown determination and passion in her approach to the programme, and has clear aims as to her personal goals too. Her co-facilitator, Selina Larsen from Conflict and Change, is looking forward to the promising journey ahead, both for the pupils of St. Bonaventure's and for the young star that is Fatma.
- May 2010Arnold delivers 'BUCD' workshop! LESS
- Arnold Shega, a recent graduate from cohort 7, has show great enthusiasm by signing up to co-facilitate 6 workshops at Kingsford school, with Conflict and Change's Selina Larsen.
Last Friday was the MOREfirst in the Big Up Cool Down programme, which helps individuals look at their responses to conflict and self confidence, through interactive, multi-media exercises and discussions. Arnold proved a strong starter, showing great confidence and winning the trust and support of the participants instantly.
The group promises to provide a lively and entertaining learning environment for all those involved, and Arnold is certainly an asset to Conflict and Change's volunteer facilitation team.
- May 2010Jasmine wins the ‘Peer Trainer of the Year’2010! LESS
- Ooooh yes!! Are we proud or are we proud? Jasmine, graduate from group 4, has won the ‘Peer Trainer of the Year’ 2010 at the National Peerlink Awards, making the award go MOREto a Truce graduate for the second year running.
Jasmine Simeron is an amazing young person who has been facilitating various workshops in conflict resolution and mediation for over a year and a half. Jasmine has trained this year alone over 85 young people, seamlessly juggling her college, part time job and all the planning and delivery of sessions we ‘threw’ her direction.
We have nominated Jasmine for the 'Peer Trainer of the Year' because-
1. Jasmine has a great sense of humour and energy that makes all the participants have fun, enjoy the sessions and not take themselves too seriously.
2. If needed, Jasmine skilfully manages to address behaviour issues within the group in an assertive but positive way, without making the young people to feel picked on.
3. Jasmine always puts 110% into supporting young people with challenging behaviour or less advantaged background
4. Jasmine has always delivered all the workshops to a very high standard. She reflects on her delivery and identifies more!! specific goals she would like to achieve in the future.
T
he ‘PEERLINK’ Award Ceremony is taking place on Thursday 10th June at BT Centre near St Pauls and we are very much looking forward to seeing our Jasmine being recognised for all the hard work and commitment. As always, it is going to be a great day full of fun workshops and like minded young people who put a lot of effort into making their school, neighbourhood or community a better place to be.
WELL DONE JASMINE, YOU TRULY DESERVE THIS AWARD, CONGRATULATIONS!!
- May 2010Natasha wastes no time, she goes straight into volunteering! LESS
- Natasha Aldonza, a fresh Truce 20/20 graduate, has jumped straight into her first volunteering opportunity – delivering workshops not in one but two local primary schools!
This is what MORENatalie, the lead trainer and Natasha’s mentor has to say:
”Natasha has a natural flair for working with people and her up-beat nature adds to the positive vibe of the sessions. We are half way through the planned 8 weeks course and i am pleased to report that she is totally committed to sharing her skills and supporting young children in our community. Keep up the good work !!!”
I couldn’t help myself and I had to investigate on how Natasha is doing. This is what she said:
“I’ve been given a great opportunity to go into primary schools and show of the skills I have learnt through Truce 20/20 programme. It’s a new experience and I’m learning not only how to facilitate, but about myself as well. I’ve never worked with children from Primary schools and I’m surprised how smart and intelligent they are when it comes to talking about their feelings and personal experiences.”
It seems it’s all going rather smoothly and great, well done Natasha and Natalie, good to hear you’re having fun!
- May 2010Truce + ARSP=match made in heaven! LESS
- Early in the morning of 4th May, Arnaud Mpeke, Jasmine Simeron and Nasra Salah, embarked upon an eventful journey into the Welsh countryside to join fellow volunteers from Conflict and Change’s partner MOREorganisation ARSP. Joining the group towards the end of a week-long residential, our three Trucers quickly assimilated themselves to the 15-strong group over a shared lunch of Eastern European delights. After lunch the young facilitators made good use of the outside space, challenging the participants to think differently about their opinions and responses to conflict. Enthusiasm and ideas flowed freely between the group, and could barely be contained in one afternoon alone.
Following sterling delivery and team work from our three, the evening moved onto a rowdy BBQ and a great number of communal games. In the morning following, a bleary eyed group engaged with a thoughtful and interesting session run by two volunteers from ARSP, which echoed and expanded on many of the topics explored so thoroughly by our Trucers the previous evening. All in all the weekend proved great fun, and a new challenge for Arnaud, Jasmine and Nasra, which they embraced whole-heartedly and professionally.
- Apr 2010Truce graduates meet Rasha from Sudan! LESS
- The Truce graduates had a fantastic opportunity to meet Rasha El Fangry, an international peace builder from Sudan.
The event was attended by 32 Truce graduates who enjoyed listening about all the MOREgreat work Rasha does, showering her with questions for over 45 minutes! Rasha very much enjoyed the session and commented on how great it is to see young people from different backgrounds in one community making a positive change.
Nasra Salah, our Truce 20/22 graduate said: “It was an inspiration having Rasha tell her story about how she has helped her community overcome conflict, and be part of the process of finding a common ground between the Southern and Northern Sudanese, I was mostly intrigued by her enthusiasm and her dedication to wanting to change her community and how women are perceived. Coming from a similar Muslim background, I am able to relate that to how women are treated in my culture and Rasha empowers me to break that cycle and
give me hope that it can also happen in my community. I wish her the best of luck in her work and hope that she touches everyone hearts as much as she did ours."
- Apr 2010Group 7 completes the ‘Peace builder’s Workshop’! LESS
- Can you believe it??? Another Truce cohort has completed the ‘Peace Builder’s Workshop’, a 10 week programme that trains young people from Newham in conflict resolution, mediation and design and facilitation.
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The training was facilitated by the ‘A-team’, consisting of Edward, Nana and our sparkly trainee Jasmine. They have done an amazing job, supported, encouraged and most importantly empowered the young participants on an individual level.
Cohort 7 was consisting of 20 young people who were absolutely brilliant, hardworking and very committed to the training. 17!!!, yes 17 have completed their portfolios for the OCN accreditation, making it the most successful bunch in terms of certification so far. Well done guys, like I’ve said, you are brilliant and you did work very hard.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the trainers and the G7 participants for being fantastic and very supportive of each other; it’s been great to watch you grow as a team and a group. I’m really looking forward to see you ( young people ) in action, it will be great to put those new skills into action and reach many more young people from our community.
- Apr 2010An international peace builder from Sudan is coming to meet Truce! LESS
- We are absolutely delighted to host Rasha El Fangry, an international peace builder supported by Peace Direct.
Rasha will lead a special session of the youth group Truce 2020, MOREwhere all our current and previous participants will learn from her experience of practical techniques for handling social tensions and violence. It is an inspiring event with many human stories.
She will be drawing on her own experience as the director of the Collaborative For Peace In Sudan, the only network of local peace organisations that works across both sides of the militarised North-South divide which has torn Sudan apart in Africa’s longest-running civil war. This month, after 24 years of war, Sudan will hold its first peacetime elections on 11 April.
Rasha has been involved in mobilising and educating voters who have never known an election before. She has organised teams of local people to visit the desert villages and traditional cattle-camps of Sudan, often on bicycles, to spread the word.
We can't wait for her to share her stories of determination, we have no doubt our young people will leave the session nothing but inspired and motivated.
- Apr 2010We're going on a residential! LESS
- The current cohort of 20 young people has been meeting every Wednesday evening to learn about conflict resolution and mediation. The highlight for every group ( and so far we had 6!! MORE) was the residential weekend outside of London, where our young participants not only get to chance to know each other properly but also have fun in outdoor activities.
Our group 7 will be heading to the beautiful country side of Buckinghamshire, where apart from hard work, they will do some rock climbing and low rope fun team building exercises.
Have fun guys!!
- Mar 2010Arsha sits on an interviewing panel! LESS
- Recently Conflict and Change appointed a new Schools and Young People’s Development Officer. Thanks to Truce 2020 volunteer Arsha Qamar for sitting on the interview panel and contributing from a young person’s MOREto the process of appointing the right person for the job.
- Mar 2010Truce hosts students from Ohio! LESS
- Mary Santer, our Truce group 2 graduate, helped lead a session for visiting students from Ohio State University at the Conflict and Change project offices in East Ham. And as if she MOREwere not busy enough, Mary also supported part of the peer mediation programme for year 5 children at Selwyn Primary School.
It was great to see how much Mary enjoyed working in Primary schools and to see her confidence in facilitation grow.
- Mar 2010Jasmine co-delivers the 'Peace builder's workshop'! LESS
- Another one of our star graduates of the Peace Builders’ course has been Jasmine Simeron. Jasmine supported the delivery of the sixth Peace Builders course during the autumn term 2009. She has MOREtaken a much fuller role in helping to facilitate the seventh course, taking on some of the more involved exercises. Our ideal would be to see the Peace Builders Course in the future being significantly delivered by previous graduates of the programme.
- Feb 2010New Truce group 7 starts! LESS
- A new group of 20 young people aged between 16-21 who live in the London borough of Newham have started the 10 week 'Peace builder's workshop' programme. The group of young people MOREis going to be trained in conflict resolution, mediation and design and facilitation of workshops.
The sessions are held in the Hartley Centre on Wednesday's evening, which is a venue we've used for our training before.
We hope all our new recruits enjoy the training and learn a lot of new skills that they will be able to use in their community.
- Feb 2010Jamal and Daniel are recruiting! LESS
- Taster sessions for potential recruits for the Truce 2020 programme have been delivered by Jamal Farah, Daniel Cox. They have both completed their 'Peace builder's Workshop' in November and this was their MOREfirst opportunity to 'show what they've got' as facilitators.
Needless to say, they have been fine role models for other young people exploring the possibility of joining future courses and we are very proud of them. Well done guys!
