“Training in Non Violent Conflict Resolution (mediation, Non-Violent Resistance)”

The project idea with the title: “Training in Non Violent Conflict Resolution (mediation, Non-Violent Resistance)” is proposed by a consortium of organizations based in the Region of Thessaly and specifically in the cities of Larissa and Trikala. The organizations involved in the partnership are active both in the provision of counseling and the psychosocial support of the vulnerable social groups, individuals and families that are facing various difficulties (economic, social, etc.). Additionally all partners are active as well in the provision of educational services to mental health professionals, parents, teachers, etc.

The extensive experience of the partners in the relevant fields provides significant operational coverage and the necessary added value. The proposed partnership was initially designed and developed according to specific criteria and needs ensuring the networking, the cooperation and the exchange of practices (and knowledge) between the involved partners.

Objectives of the project:

1st Objective:
Education/training of 7 executives and scientific associates of the consortium organizations. These professionals will have the opportunity to obtain new knowledge and skills in two different techniques; a) “Mediation” technique (which will take place in Belgium) and b) “NON – violent Resistance (NVR)” technique (which will take place in United Kingdom). After the training and through the implementation of interactive joint meetings, involved partner will have the opportunity to “progress” and further develop their obtained knowledge and skills.

2nd Objective:
Development of a network between the involved partners in order to ensure the necessary feedback and exchange of practices/experiences between them. Such an evolution will result to the optimization of the services provided by the participating partners in the proposed field. At the same time, a series of experiential workshops for professionals on mental health will take place as basic output of the proposed networking. The workshops will be designed and delivered for a specific target group (Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Sociologists, Teachers, etc.) ensuring the spread of the new methodological approaches to conflict resolution.

3rd Objective:
Personal development and professional evolution of the participants (both executives and associate participants).

4th Objective:
Confrontation and reduction of the violent behavior and conflict resolution of individuals and groups which are working with the partners. In this level the professionals of each partner will have the opportunity to work with new tools which are going to complement the already existing one.

5th Objective:
Enhancement of the profile of each partner to be able to manage potential internal problems that might appear, due to the fact that involved staff will be in position to adopt peaceful resolution of conflicts. The project will train 7 experts. All participants will have as common feature their professional tasks, providing counseling to individuals, groups, parents, teachers or their participation in adult training related to mental health issues. Additionally, all participants are either mental health professionals or teachers with additional qualifications and/ or academic qualifications. Participants have sufficient knowledge of the English language (Language of courses). The proposed project will have two streams.

1st Flow: Belgium / Mediation. The expected learning outcomes are related not only to the knowledge of the philosophy and principles of mediation, but also to the mainly skills for procedure as a method of peaceful resolution of conflicts between individuals or groups.
2nd Flow: UK / NON – Violent Resistance (NVR), The expected learning outcomes are related to the cognitive part of NVR, the philosophy and its basic principles. Mainly these outcomes concern skills for its implementation. After the training, the partners of the consortium assume the responsibility to organize experiential workshops for mental health professionals, parents, teachers at the local level to spread the philosophy and skills of peaceful conflict resolution.

The long term benefits of the proposed project are associated with the full integration of new techniques/ tools of conflict resolution in everyday practice of the participating organizations and the gradual transformation in how to deal with differences.