Our Work Experience; International

Andy Mason

Since 2002 Andy’s international work in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Sri Lanka has included:

• Training local NGO staff in Beirut, Amman and Jordan to work with Iraqi refugees in a way that encourages real connection and trust
• Relationship building among diverse communities including resident and internally displaced Sinhalese, Tamils and Moslems
• Training of local and international peace workers
• Management and organisational development of non governmental organisations (NGOs) 

In Egypt

2008 - 2009 Regular phone coaching with Andy has given senior managers of a large corperation in Egypt the capacity to build better relationships with staff and peers through using nonviolent conflict transformation. This has resulted in a significant shift in their relationships with their fellow board members - leading to greater listening, trust and decision making.

In Lebanon, Jordan & Syria

In May and June 2010 Andy trained staff of ALPHA, a local NGO, and community members around Tibnine, southern Lebanon. The training aimed to help ALPHA staff form closer connections with families and children affected by the 2006 war. In this photo participants are role playing a 'common conflict scenario' to look at the impact of feelings and judgements. Introducing NVC-based approaches gives people alternatives to judgement-based options that often polarise people rather than connect.

The photo to the right shows ALPHA staff and local community leaders practising the use of empathy to diffuse a community conflict. The training took place over 8 half-day sessions. In-between training sessions Andy made regular visits to the Centres run ALPHA to support staff in implementing ideas from the training.

In April 2009 Andy extended earlier work in Lebanon to Jordan and Syria. This involved training staff from local NGOs and UN agencies in using NVC-based approaches in their work with Iraqi refugees.

It also included specific training for psychologists and psychological counsellors who support Iraqi families and children. A key part of this work is the emphasis on connection with the needs of the beneficiaries, on giving empathy, rather than trying to 'fix the problem'. Time and again people have reported the transformation in relationships and ease that is created when this connection is made. Interestingly, by being aware of their own needs in the situation, those working with Iraqi refugees have been able to move away from their traditional aproaches of 'doing something for' the other. Crucially it this desire to meet our own needs in the only way we know how that often blocks us connecting with, and being led by, the needs of the beneficiaries.

2008 - 2009 Community Harmonisation as part of emergency support provided to Iraqi refugee and host communities in Beirut, Lebanon. Terres des hommes' (Tdh's) project is being implemented by the Insan Association through Tdh's expertise in working with refugee communities. Tdh is an international NGO and funding for this work comes from ECHO.

In September 2008 Andy trained the Insan team in how to develop deep connection and trust with thecommunities by listening for their non-material needs. During role play the team reported how having their needs heard really shifted their judgements of their situations as well as of those playing the role of NGO staff. From this place it was then possible to plan alternative actions to meet the needs of all in a way that was truly community led. This photo shows Andy introducing a tool called ‘The 13 Step NVC Dance Floor’, designed by Bridget Belgrave and Gina Lawrie (see www.NvcDanceFloors.com).

In January and February 2009 Andy provided additional training in empathy, self empathy and non-violent decision making. The team reported feedback from the Iraqi refugees they are working with. The impact of the team's capacity to give empathy was clear, one had said how 'she needed somebody to acknowledge her situation and help take away some of the frustration she was feeling'.

Also in February Andy started working directly with the Iraqi refugee communities in Beirut. The picture to the left and below show different groups discussing the violence cycle and their own non-material needs.

In Sri Lanka

2007 - Relationship building between tsunami-affected fishing communities and local government staff in southern Sri Lanka.  The re-housed community were deeply unhappy about the facilities that came with their new homes.  Emotions were running high; the community lacked, among other things, drinking water, good roads, cooking facilities and a place of worship.  Relationships with the local government officers were affected by this situation, with much judgement and blame on all sides.  Using interactive techniques like mime, role play and drama to understand the violence cycle and needs, local people and government staff learned how to see their situation differently.  One outcome was the establishment of a joint problem solving forum where difficulties were addressed jointly with listening and respect for each other.  In turn drinking water services were established and a place of worship initiated.

2006 - 2007 – Relationship building between conflict-affected Moslem, Tamil and Sinhalese people in the north-west and eastern Sri Lanka.  Through a series of workshops with adults, children, teachers and religious leaders, communities began to understand the source of their judgements and deeper feelings of anger and despair.  Schools set up peace clubs with teachers using peace concepts.  Joint workshops enabled adults from different communities to safely explore these issues together.

2005 - 2007 – A range of programmes developing the skills of local and international NGO staff and the UN to work with local people in a non-violent way.  Through workshops, practice groups and coaching sessions the skills and thinking behind non-violent practice were developed.  In Sri Lanka some people find it very hard to identify their feelings, so much time was spent on understanding feelings and needs and how to give self empathy.

2005 – Design and delivery of a ten week in-country training programme for new recruits from five continents for Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP).  NP is a complex organisation conducting difficult and sometimes dangerous work.  The in-country training was underpinned by ideas of how to work together, particularly how to discuss issues when emotions are strong.  This is vital in high-pressure situations among people with very different backgrounds.

2002 – 2007 – Organisational, team and management development (capacity building) with a number of Sri Lankan organisations, including Ahimsa, Vinivida, Rural Development Foundation and Peace and Community Action.

2008 - 2009 Regular phone coaching with Andy has given senior managers of a large corporation in Egypt the capacity to build better relationships with staff and peers through using nonviolent conflict transformation. This has resulted in a significant shift in their relationships with their fellow board members - leading to greater listening, trust and decision making.

Sarri Bater - Associate

Sarri started supporting the local staff of Terres des hommes in Tyre, southern Lebanon in June 2009. Over the next two years she will help them use Nonviolent Communication in their child protection work in the Palestinian refugee camps and gatherings. In addition to providing a process for establishing deeper trust and understanding, in this context it is envisaged that NVC will help develop relationships between different actors.

Selene Aitken - Associate

Selene began working with local Tdh staff in Amman, Jordan, in December 2009. She is teaching NVC to counsellors, psychologists and animators, who in turn will be working with Iraqi refugees. A core part of the work will be to help families use NVC in the home; Selene will be working with staff to help them run sessions with parents and children that contribute to improved child protection.

Tamara Laporte

International

For two and half years from  2005 Tamara was the Head of Extracurricular Activities and drama teacher for the Elizabeth Moir International Junior School in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Bringing her natural understanding of conflict transformation into the classroom made her a very popular, trusted and productive teacher.  As well as managing daily upsets with empathy and efficiency she organised all school sporting events, wrote, produced and directed annual school plays, project managed external art exhibitions, directed school concerts, compiled and edited the annual school magazine (with Photoshop and Corel Draw) and introduced an email system to the school.  The headmistress of the junior school said Tamara is ‘blessed with an abundance of talent and creativity.  Equally, she has a wonderful rapport with the children’.