In Aghveran, 25 young professionals, civil society representatives, and students participated in Nonviolent Communication (NVC)—a three-day training dedicated to the “language of peace.”
The three-day training titled “Nonviolent Communication Training and Simulation Exercise,” held from April 6–8, aimed to promote peacebuilding through NVC and strengthen participants’ NVC skills.
The aim of the event was to present participants with the fundamental principles of Nonviolent Communication and to develop practical skills, as well as applied tools for peacebuilding behavior.
The training was led by certified Nonviolent Communication practitioner Cinta Depondt, who came to Armenia specifically for this program.
She is a certified international Nonviolent Communication expert with more than 20 years of experience in the field and specialized expertise in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus—regions affected by conflict. For the past 15 years, she has worked with PAX, one of the largest peacebuilding organizations in the Netherlands, where she led programs in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
On the first day of the event, she presented the core principles of Nonviolent Communication, which are grounded in empathy, recognizing feelings and needs, and communication that promotes dialogue.
“I am glad to once again have the opportunity to share with young people Marshall Rosenberg’s thesis that every manifestation of violence is a tragic expression of an unmet need. Therefore, the main message of such trainings is the following: do not try to control your emotions; control your responses, and take time to recognize your needs,” said Mrs. Depondt.
On the second day of the event, an interactive simulation exercise was held, during which participants had the opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge and skills both in NVC and in the context of strategic communication. This part of the training was coordinated by lecturers from Yerevan State University and strategic communication experts Nvard Melkonyan and Anna Naghdalyan.
The three-day program concluded with a reflection on the results of the exercise, an analysis, and a mapping of participants’ capacity development.
According to the President of Public Journalism Club, Seda Muradyan, over the past few years the organization has consistently promoted Nonviolent Communication and supported the development of young people’s capacities in the fields of dialogue and peacebuilding, including within the framework of the EU4Peace initiative. The organization has regularly implemented peacebuilding trainings and meetings based on the philosophy of Nonviolent Communication.
Within the framework of the “Professional Media, Practitioners and Grassroots Joining Forces for Dialogue” program, a booklet dedicated to NVC was developed and published. It is the first practical guide of its kind in the Armenian language and represents an important contribution to the formation and awareness-raising of Nonviolent Communication culture in Armenia.
Studies have also been published aimed at a deeper analysis of NVC concepts in the context of media communication. In the near future, a series of podcasts dedicated to NVC is expected to be released.
The event was organized within the framework of the “Professional Media, Practitioners and Grassroots Joining Forces for Dialogue” project, implemented by the Public Journalism Club with financial support from the European Commission. The project partner is International Alert.
The initiative was made possible in cooperation with IRI.
