NCJ Number
160990
Date Published
1994
Length
162 pages
Annotation
This manual contains information and exercises designed to guide instructors in teaching the philosophy and skills of nonviolence to teenagers.
Abstract
The manual is not intended as a resource book and should be used as part of a well-designed, ongoing training in nonviolence. The training focuses on five areas: teaching a philosophy of nonviolence, building community, building esteem for self and others, building conflict-resolution skills, and building communication skills. For each of these areas, exercises and the logistics of their implementation are described, so the instructor can guide participants in performing the exercises. The training is based in the following concept: "There is a power in the world that transforms violent and destructive actions into life-giving and creative actions." The focus of the training is to assist participants in opening themselves to this power and learning how it manifests, or fails to manifest, itself in interpersonal dynamics. The conviction underlying this strategy is that learning nonviolence is a threefold engagement of a person's emotional, mental, and spiritual capacities. The manual includes tips on how to lead training sessions; time frames for training are adaptable; and the training style is participatory, relying on structured exercises. Appended information on how to organize a training session, training formats and agendas, handling conflicts with individuals, handling group conflicts, stories of calling power, and how to build a culture of nonviolence