A training workshop on the Learning to Live Together (LTLT) Programme titled: “Building a Culture of Peace in the Family, School and Community” was held in Quibdó, Colombia from 6 to 9 August. The workshop aimed to deepen and follow up on the programs initiated in 2013 by the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Colombia.
17 people participated in the training program, including representatives from the Anglican Church and Catholic Church, the Foundation “Niños Futuro del Atrato”, as well as teachers, social workers and youth leaders from the town of San Agustin.
The workshop was designed to provide concrete tools for the implementation of the Learning to Live Together Programme, focusing on violence and poverty as the main challenges faced by the community. During the workshop participants broadly discussed the topic of violence and how it originates within the families.
Ms. Mercedes Román, one of the trainers and Adviser on Ethics Education for the GNRC Latin America and the Caribbean, shared about the participants:
“In this workshop, most of the participants were women. They are all very smart, with great artistic talents and with a strong desire to learn. They are interested to work towards any change that could benefit the community.”
Ms. Román stated that carrying out a workshop in this particular region of Colombia has many challenges to overcome: The weather is very hot and wet, the communities lack proper venues to carry out the activities, and some of the participants are struggling to cover their basic needs. Nevertheless, participants were very motivated and are looking forward to the implementation with children.
It is expected that a systematic implementation of the LTLT will be initiated later in 2015 for a period of at least six months. The implementation with the children and youth will take place in three locations: In the town of San Agustín by trained community members, in Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes’ School by teachers, and in the Anglican Church where they expect to carry out the program with children from the soccer team they sponsor.
A Community of Practice on Ethics Education was suggested at the end of the workshop to support the implementation and provide technical support to the teachers who participated in the workshop.
Special thanks to GNRC Colombia for the unwavering support to this process and to the trainers who made this workshop possible.