On 20.-22.03.2014, 42 peer eduators
from our Action Group Tshepanang gathered for their traditional
workshop at the Guest Farm outside Mahikeng. The main topic for this workshop was "Nonviolent Communication" according to the famous book written
by Marshall Rosenberg.
The South African Society is often
referred to as a violent society. On a daily basis we hear of violent
service delivery protests in the townships and of strikes that turn
violent as well as of various forms of domestic violence. Even in the
schools incidents of violence have increased sharply.
The peer educators were aware that
in most cases the physical violent is preceded by a break down in the
communication. That’s why they listened with great interest to the
basic elements of non-violent communication: Observation without
evaluation, becoming aware and expressing our feelings and accepting
responsibility for our feelings.
During the exercises in small groups
we realized how used we are to speak by using generalizations that
always contain an element of judgment. It also became clear to us how
often we make only the others responsible for our feelings without
acknowledging that our feeling are often rooted in our own unmet
needs.
It was wonderful that even at this
workshop there was time for a celebration. The seven new members who
had survived their first three month of teaching in schools received
their Golf Shirts with the Tshepanang Logo and those Peer Educators
who excelled in their teaching were awarded presents. The highlight
of the night was the celebration of the Diploma in Adult Education
and Training that had been awarded to Thelma Monageng. She has been
the fourth member of Tshepanang who has managed to receive a diploma.
In her highly emotional thanksgiving speech she said: "What I am
today I am through Tshepanang. I will never abandon to work for
Tshepanang until I die".
