On 14-16 June 2023, the Roots for Peace team of YMCA Europe and German NGO “Dialogue for Understanding” met in Grozny, Russia, along with participants and mentors of the series of training sessions (2022-2023) aimed at spreading of the Do No Harm methodology. The main goal of this reunion was to evaluate the results of the local seminars held by project participants – multipliers of Do No Harm concept.
“I felt safe, heard, and I could speak openly with others”.
“I am extremely happy that everyone had a chance to express themselves”.
“I liked that we were discussing relevant topics”.
“After our training session, I started to look at my life from different angles and find new meaning of ordinary things”.
“I realized that if you want to help others, you must establish a good contact with them filled with active listening and empathy”.
These and other feedback from over 200 participants of local seminars and training sessions showed high interest in the presented topics, as well as in learning and adapting of the DNH methodology in personal and professional life. The relevance of non-formal education techniques and effective collaboration of the project partners provided for additional motivation of the multipliers to support the continuation of the project. All project partners agreed that they would search for additional resources and partnerships to sustain this work in the future.
The inspirer of the project and leader of the Roots for Peace Vardan Hambardzumyan especially highlighted a professional collaboration between the project team and the mentors, who knew the local context, the regulations, and attracted additional resources on the local level, which made for a higher quality of the training sessions; the mentors also did a great job by selecting skillful and motivated multipliers.
The more the darkness, the more we appreciate the light: while we navigate our lives under challenging circumstances, the members of this new team have become the light for each other. It is so important to preserve these contacts, the team and motivation, and we are quite optimistic there is a good chance for this.
