Sticky Learning: Conflict Transformation Training in Northern Ireland
by Bryan Carey
In mid-November I had the privilege to return to Northern Ireland once again in order to lead a series of trainings for staff and students at the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) An Cuan base. The staff and students came from Northern Ireland, the USA, Germany, and Israel-Palestine.
Previous times that I have been invited to speak with Christian groups in Northern Ireland, I had been invited to speak primarily about a theological foundation and vision for peace and peacebuilding. This time, the request was for a more practical: How do we do it? What perspectives and skills do we need to cultivate in order to work as peacebuilders in our everyday lives and communities?
I was very excited to lead a series of eight interactive workshops over a period of four days:
Identity, Dignity, & Conflict
Conflict as Holy Ground
Negative & Positive Peace
Dialogue Skills
Group Dynamics & Empathy
Trauma & Conflict Cycles
Mediation & Win-Win Scenarios
Peacebuilding & the Good News
The participants did an incredible amount of practical and deeply emotional work as we interacted in games, group work, reflection sessions, and more. After packing in so much in such a short time frame, I was curious to see how much the participants’ learning might truly “stick.” On our fifth day, we hiked up to Cloughmore, “The Big Stone,” above the town of Rostrevor, and each of the participants shared a brief reflection about one of the themes from the week, followed by responses and reflection from the others in a circle.
Suffice it to say, I was deeply impressed. I had very little to add as the participants reflected on their own dignity and worth, their tendencies and challenges in conflict situations, skills they are working on for empathy and connection across differences, the inner-healing work they are beginning to engage in to make them more attentive to themselves and others, and how the training practically impacts their view of Christian “mission” and vocation.
By engaging with a variety of learning styles, these diverse participants were able to engage with, reflect on, and apply the learning content in various ways that made it effective for their personal learning styles.
Experiential learning workshops make learning more “sticky” and applicable.
Bryan is Peace Catalyst Director of International Peacebuilding, based in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2016 Bryan and his wife Stephanie moved to the Balkan region, where they have been learning alongside and supporting the work of Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox peacebuilders. Bryan hosts workshops, conducts trainings, and teaches about peace-oriented theology, peacebuilding practices, and how Christian groups can get involved in community peacebuilding. Learn more about Bryan here.
