Nonviolence Education and Training Project

Education and training in the principles, skills and techniques of active
nonviolence have been integral parts of the work of the International
Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) throughout its seventy-five years.  At
this time in history our Fellowship is being called upon to an ever
increasing extent for this kind of work. IFOR people have conducted
nonviolence education and training from South Africa to the Philippines, from
Lithuania to Zaire, from the USA to Madagascar, from Croatia to Nepal, from
Israel to Rumania, and throughout Latin America.

IFOR established the Nonviolence Education and Training Project (NVETP) in
1992 to make our work in nonviolence education and training more deliberate
and intentional.  Through the NVETP, IFOR will strengthen the important role
currently being played by our organization in the development of the
knowledge and practice of active nonviolence as a way of life and as a means
of personal, social, economic and political transformation .

The aims of the project are to enhance the ability of IFOR and other
organizations to appropriately respond to requests for nonviolence education
and training; to strengthen, improve and extend IFOR's own education and
training in active nonviolence.  We hope to reach new groups on all
continents with the message of the power of active nonviolence, and deepen
the capacity of existing IFOR and other nonviolence groups to be active
participants in the peace and social change movements in their own settings.

These aims will be pursued in the following ways:
* Contact with and development of the international network of individuals
and groups within and outside IFOR capable of providing training in active
nonviolence.
* Serving as an international clearing house for the identification of
training needs, the receipt of nonviolence training requests, and the
coordination of responses and necessary follow-up strategies .
*  The gathering and disseminating of available information and materials on
active nonviolence and the development and production of new resources.
* The development of the distinctive features of IFOR approaches to active
nonviolence and their organization into a coherent education and training
program. 
5. Enhancing and extending the program of IFOR seminars in active nonviolence
appropriate to particular groups, settings and circumstances.
* The development, in particular, of cross-cultural and interfaith training
capacities and resources.
* Encompassing in the range of activities, methodologies and resources an
emphasis on conflict resolution, including "listening", mediation and
negotiation, and active reconciliation, alongside approaches related to
empowerment, development of long-term goals/visions, actions and strategies
for change.
*  Networking and developing appropriate joint work with other projects.
* Developing resources and providing training that is useful and relevant for
IFOR and other nongovernmental organizations engaging in direct conflict
intervention work, e.g., through peace-teams, delegations, mediation, etc.
* Assisting in the development of appropriate follow-up to active nonviolence
training initiatives which are undertaken.

IFOR training
The inspiration for our work comes from an overt spirituality.  We are
committed to the creation of just relations, based on respect and equality,
approaching adversaries and friends with love and truthfulness. Ours is a
values based approach, grounded in compassion, courage, responsibility and
celebration.

In our training we explore sources of empowerment, helping participants to
find, through a participatory and elicitive educational process, their own
source of strength.  We challenge training participants to explore and
strengthen the roots of nonviolence in their own culture, to increase their
capability to resist the oppression they confront.  We challenge them to
develop a stronger awareness of self, particularly in areas where they can
contribute to the peace and social change movements in their society.  We
push them to become trainers and facilitators of the same.

We are committed to working with groups.  Ours is a mainly grassroots
movement.  In a spirit of solidarity, our international network of
organizations has the capacity to accompany groups as they develop.  We aim
to provide a sense of continuity in the face of struggle.  The international
secretariat of the IFOR works with our fellowship to develop action
programmes to push forward in our work to engage in change, and to prepare
others to engage in this work.  We see our fellowship as a community working
together in support of a new peace ethic - with reconciliation, healing and
forgiveness as critical elements.

Suggested qualities of IFOR trainers
* based in own culture, doing the work training for there, visibly involved
and able to draw on these experiences
* good communication skills
* ability to share self - not just do training and leave
* commitment to nonviolence
* knowledge of IFOR - principles and history
* involvement in IFOR branch/group
* strong training experience
* capacity/flexibility to adapt to different cultures
* strong sense of spirituality
* ability and openness to working in an interfaith setting
* lives what trains--spirituality, love, nonviolence
* ability to gain exposure in setting where training will be done
* to expand base of trainers, attempt to take along less experienced trainers
as co-trainers
* reports to secretariat

Important themes for IFOR training: spirituality, values, life style,
orientation, "deepening the roots."  Wide range: nonviolent action, branch
development, consciencization, women, environment, reconciliation,
interfaith, conflict resolution, youth.

Some funds must come from the group requesting the training.

Trainers fees need to be included in budgets, to at least acknowledge the
value of their work.

IFOR, Spoorstraat 38, 1815 BK Alkmaar, The Netherlands