From 31.10.2009 – 1.11.2009 Grensen Oslo
This course is primarily geared to those who are curious about what conflict work entails and would like to get a better idea of whether it might be something they would want to pursue, as a future career, a change of direction, or just to sample it at some point in their life.
This short workshop introductory course provides a glimpse into the field of civilian ‘conflict work’: What is it? Who does it? What do you need to be able to do it? How do you get into it? As well as trying to answer these questions, the course will give participants the opportunity to explore more deeply whether this kind of work is something they may want to go into at some point in their lives. The course will help to understand what is involved in conflict work and whether this is for you. This course was given by Trond Botnen
Course outline:
(conflict in theory & practice)
(work of official bodies UN,OSCE & EU)
(work of NGOs in the Field)
(areas of specialization for civilian personnel)
(core skills for working in conflict)
(Field simulation exercise)
Field simulation and feedback
Simulation: this simulation will take part in a 3-hours simulation exercise Sunday afternoon. There will be no formal individual assessment, but the groups will receive feedback both on result and process so that each one can consider our further skill development.
About the Fredslaget
The Norwegian Peace Association (Norges Fredslag) is Norway’s oldest peace organization. It was founded in 1885 by MP Wollert Konow. Among it’s first members were renowned authors Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Arne Garborg. The organisation played a major role in the peaceful devolvement of the union with Sweden in 1905, along with its Swedish sister organisation.
Today it is an independent NGO with a roster of about 350 volunteers and no permanent staff. The NPA works for lasting world peace based on economic and social justice, freedom and personal responsibility, and for the development of a culture of peace where conflicts within and between countries are managed constructively and nonviolently. The NPA takes an active role in influencing Norwegian opinion and policy-makers by lobbying with partners for peace-friendly policies on the national and international arenas. Some of the focal points in this activity are the cause and prevention of violent conflict, alternative solutions to war and global disarmament. The organization consists of individuals with both academic expertise and international experience working with conflict transformation, peace education and training. The focus is mainly on non-formal education to create a higher awareness and better understanding of peace and security issues, and on emphasizing the root causes of violent conflicts and war. The NPA is a member organisation of the Nonviolent Peaceforce and a partner in the ARCA and ALPICOM projects.
visit the site www.fredslaget.no
