Windows for Peace (UK)

Developments and plans since September 2009

25 people undertook Facilitators training in 2009 strengthening our capacity both within the Youth Dialogue group and in other organisations.  Examples of developments from the training include:

Since the course, the Youth Dialogue group has:

·   Launched a national Facilitators Training Team to work with outside agencies: Ikram(Preston); Shaila(Birmingham); Frances (Oxford); Sam (Bristol); Daniel (London); Amy (Manchester) with Judith and Sheila co-ordinating. The team will offer one off events and co-work with youth workers to introduce dialogue work, developing confidence and capacity in groups and support some of the initiatives above learning and building from successes and working to reduce the barriers.  The team will be undertaking accredited training in March at Warrington Peace Centre.

·   Been included as a speaker in the Jewish Activities in Mainstreams Schools (JAMs)  programme Jewish Society lunches and Jewish assemblies

·   Provided follow up support to the 2009 Facilitators including a day in January 2010

The group will be:

·   Running  a session at the Women's Spirituality Group at Manchester University in February

·   Undertaking a review of work in schools

·   Establishing a Dialogue group (subject to recruitment)

·   Supporting the initiatives in Stockport and Bury

·   Running a further Facilitators Training course in 2010

 What next for the 2009 Facilitators?

 Developing new activities around England:

·   Stockport – A youth project is being established involving a synagogue and Muslim young people already working with the youth service

·   Bury – A project is under discussion led by IMEC at Bury College

·   Liverpool - Thinking about how to use it in the local context & make it relevant

·   London ‘Can’t drop straight into work but want to develop work around it, widening that perspective across all communities- conflict resolution – learning from other conflicts.  I work with gangs and have done a holocaust project and work around Bosnia. I want to do an international project drawing lessons to benefit our communities, perhaps looking at territorialism’.

·   Oxford University – event in the Spring.

Incorporating into existing activities

·   ‘I have used exercises in single identity group work, I wouldn’t have done this otherwise. This methodology is a great thing and will stay with me. I am thinking about how to offer as a course to youth workers’

·   ‘I would like to become part of WfP facilitators group and be involved in setting up the London WfP UK  group. I can encourage more Jewish youth organisations to get involved in the work’

·   ‘I am re-thinking how to use Solidarity Complex (shown at training). I was already thinking of setting up similar training event in London area. There is potential New Routes and WfP to work together’

Development of awareness, interest and skills

‘I have started to incorporate lessons or viewpoints into my own life and my own understanding.  I am in the process of writing a short piece regarding the course.....  I am also attending a course relating to facilitating dialogue in conflict resolution.’

‘made me aware of other organisations that I could engage with.’

‘interested in meeting young people at Edinburgh (an Israeli Palestinian youth dialogue workshop to be held in July 2010) & seeing the work’

         ‘I want to facilitate and get feedback on my input.  That way you learn more.’

And barriers:

            ‘I am not sure how to take it forward.  Young people are interested but it is not really part    of  my work, so there are issues of funding and time for the work and I am not sure how to go about it. I am concerned about the political nature of work, and do not want to stand on anyone’s toes’

 The Youth Dialogue group will work with facilitators to help overcome barriers.

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Dialoguing about the Middle East:

A Resource Pack for Muslim, Arab, Palestinian and Jewish Young People

Click here for a PowerPoint presentation for the Resource Pack

Do you work with young people from Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian and/or Arab communities who are concerned about what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Despite the current violence there are young people from both communities working for dialogue and a new future in the UK as well as Israel and Palestine.

The pack:

• Is for facilitators working with young people aged 15- 21.
• Contains activities designed to promote dialogue between young people from Muslim, Palestinian, Arab and Jewish backgrounds focussing on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Example activity below.
• Was written by young people, youth workers and adults from the different communities.
• The activities have been tried and tested in workshops.
• It does not take a political line over issues but encourages discussion and the development of skills to understand diverse views.
• Was produced with the support of Awards for All Lottery funding.

Two example pages: The Jigsaw activity

"Clearly drawing on some very testing experiences of practice, the pack brings together a range of accessible and imaginative exercises and resources for encouraging and supporting young people to reflect  critically - and self-critically - on one of the conflicts of our time which desperately needs just this kind of exchange and dialogue"

Bernard Davies, retired youth worker and academic

Sam explained that Jewish youth usually relate Jihad to suicide bombings and terrorism. The presentation helped him to understand the concept of Jihad much better and made a difference to his personal views. "As a result, I can proudly say that I believe I did a fairly good job!"

"I know what my community think. By being part of Window s I can find out what Muslims think. That way I am going to get a whole picture. I feel better informed."

 "I'm determined to take what I've learnt through Window s to educate the other young Jewish people I'll be leading this summer."

 Young people involved in WfP Youth Dialogue in 2007-8

Copies of the pack are available for £12.50 plus £1.25 p & p for all orders by purchase order.

Only £10 plus £1.25 p&p for orders paid for by cheque with order.

Postage free for 5 or more.

Payment can be made by cheque or by bank transfer (details on order form).

Credit terms 30 days; we reserve the right to charge 10% extra for late payments.

All packs will be sent out with a receipt.

To open an order form in Word format, click on this link: 

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Windows for Peace (UK)

DIALOGUING ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST - FACILITATORS TRAINING

First run in September 2009 at Warrington Peace Centre; involved 26 people 1/3 Muslim, 1/3 Jewish and 1/3 people from other or no faith – great success! Get in touch if you would like to attend our next training course, provisionally July 2010

WHAT WILL THE TRAINING INVOLVE?

 Participants will:

• Dialogue about Israel and Palestine

• Find out about how to support young people to dialogu

• Explore how the cycle of violence breeds hate on both sides

• Develop strategies to challenge anti-semitism and Islamaphobia

• Develop an understanding of peaceful approaches to conflict resolution

• Develop knowledge about people working for peace in Palestine and Israel, both there and in the UK

• Consider our own roles in fuelling the conflict or working for a just peace

• Explore issues of identity

• Explore the role of the media

• Use exercises from the pack

• Network with others they may work with in the future

 ATTENDANCE: The training consists of a 2 day course and optional follow up day.

COST:  £250 including all meals. Some bursaries will be available in return for some dialogue work. Extra expenses for childcare or other dependents can be reimbursed.

CONTACT:    Judith@windowsforpeaceuk.org

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