USAID funds non-violent skills training

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 March 2005, 02:54 GMT]
USAID funded program for youths on Non-Violent skills training conducted by the Eastern University and the Centre for Non-violent Communication at the Trincomalee campus concluded Monday and the participating youths were awarded certificates at an event held at the Trincomalee Hall Monday evening, civil sources said.


section of students from schools in Kinniya, Muttur and Trincomalee attending the concluding session

Ms Brenda Barret, outgoing Regional Programme Manager of USAID in Trincomalee and her successor Ms Clare Mc Connachie attended the event. Rev. Dr.C.P.Rajendram, Rector of the Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University, Mr.T.Pirapharan, Faculty of Communication and Business Studies also participated.

Ms Brenda Barret said that non-violent communication skill training is urgently needed to promote trust and better understanding between all communities to build permanent peace in Sri Lanka.

Ms Brenda barret giving away the certificate

"The survival of the humanity depends on the non-violent communication. Most of us today have forgotten the non-violent language. Non-violent communication does not mean that we should be quiet or soft. All needs of a society can be met by the non-violent communication," said Rev Dr.C.P.Rajendram.

"Non-violent communication is not a new language and it is a language known to all of us from the time of our birth. Child cries and the mother understands the meaning of the cry and the need of the child is met," Rev.Dr.C.P.Rajendram said.

Mr.Pirapaharan said peace in family, in society and in work place is essential to have permanent peace in the country

Non-violent communication skills training has been offered to the youth of the Trincomalee campus and selected students from schools in Trincomalee, Kinniya and Muttur through eighteen workshops in a variety of formats, ranging from brief introductions to advanced skill training.

Resource persons were from the teaching staff of the Trincomalee campus and members of the Centre for Non-Violent Communication (CNVC), campus sources said.

The objective of the CNV training is to build relationships based on compassion and understanding, accurately hear what other people feel and need, even when they express themselves in a hostile manner, foster democratic values, tolerance, harmony and teamwork, resolves conflicts in ways that increase trust and mutual understanding, break patterns of thinking that lead to anger and depression, evaluate performance in ways that promote growth and learning and celebrate our power to enrich life, training officials said.

Rev.Dr.C.P.Rajendram, Rector of the Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University

Ms Clare Mc Connachie, new Regional Programme Manager of USAID in Trincomalee

Campus students who underwent the non-violent communication skills traing are seen with the guests