WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED in 2007

• Creating a daylong experience of building peace through Nonviolent Communication (NVC), art, and play for over 40 kids from different walks of life, including street children, deaf children, and Kabul school children.

• Gifting $300 in art supplies to a school for the deaf in Kabul

• Offering a 5 day training in “being” nonviolence through NVC, reconciliation circles, and nonviolent philosophy to 22 Afghan leaders, including 13 women

• Sponsoring 5 Afghan women to attend the 5 day training with full scholarships, including travel expenses

• Development of practical and immediately implementable social change projects in the 5 day training, including plans to create a farm for a rural village and a national campaign to raise awareness of violence against women

• Creation and sharing of English/ Dari NVC digital training materials, including Powerpoint presentations, handouts, and games for participants to immediately share in their organizations and communities

• Distribution of Farsi NVC handbooks, previously unavailable in Afghanistan

• Documenting (on high-def digital video) the peace-building day with Afghan children and testimonials from participants in the 5-day training to promote NVC in Afghanistan and the work of the Bureau for Reconstruction and Development (the Afghan NGO that organized the trainings).

• Creating bridges for future offerings: Teachers and organizers of children’s groups have already invited us back to further and deepen understanding of NVC in the areas of healing from sexual abuse and transforming how children are respected in the school environment; Participants in the 5-day training requested advanced trainings and continued support

Together, we raised $13,056, covering all but $2.50 of the expenses for this trip!

Read more about our 2007 Afghanistan journey on our online blog at zenvc.org/blog...

 

SUPPORT PEACE RISING 2008

Khan Agha Dawoodzai, Program Director of the Bureau for Reconstruction and Development, has requested that our team lead further trainings in Kabul in November, 2008. To fulfill our vision for this project, we would like to raise $17,000 to cover projected expenses, including compensation for trainers' and translator's work.

You can help. Click on "ChipIn!" below to make a secure donation now, and spread the word with your friends and others who may be interested in supporting this cause.