“Omnibus 1325” continues its route
00:00, July 10, 2008
“I do not want to lose my friends …” – one of participants of the program “Omnibus 1325” announced answering the question on why she has started to deal with peace-building activity.
“I have friends living far from me in different countries of Caucasus; I am deprived of the opportunity to communicate with them because of the conflicts existing between our countries. And I am glad, that I was given an opportunity to contribute my efforts in order to keep my friendship.
The educational program “Omnibus 1325”, started in 2006 simultaneously in Germany and Caucasus, unites participants realizing the necessity of the nonviolent resolution of conflicts and wishing to bring their contribution to peace-building. The program goal is preparation of experts for realizing gender-focused peace-making work. The program covers a wide spectrum of educational work and consists of several thematic sections – educational work in the spirit of pedagogy of peace on “Gender and Peacebuilding”, history, memory, peacebuilding, gender in the work with history and memory; gender in culture and society; gender and behaviour in conditions of conflict; acquaintance with monitoring of influence of educational work in the spirit of pedagogy of peace, acquaintance with bases of systematization of experience.
From June 21 till June 27, 2008, the module of seminars within the framework of the program “Omnibus 1325” took place in Istanbul for the Caucasian participants. The focus of the given module was the issues of pedagogical bases based on the Gestalt pedagogy: thematically centered interaction of TZI and Gestalt cycle.
During the meeting, a there was a special focus on the discussion of the question of creating a trainers’ network with the purpose of carrying out educational activities and providing consultation support in the issues of considering gender aspects for nonviolent and constructive resolution of conflicts.
“We all are very different and this is our wealth!” – Marina Grasse, the program manager shared with the participants, – “We are different, but we are united in our aspiration to work for achieving peace. And I have confidence that together we can reach our dream!”
The next meeting within the framework of the program “Omnibus 1325” will take place in Berlin in October of 2008. Berlin will be the expected meeting place of «the passengers” of “Omnibus 1325” from Germany and Caucasus, who started their journey in 2006 to meet each other. The meeting will be devoted to the issues of gender in intercultural peace-building education and will be at the same time the point of summarizing the program results, and development and thoughts on new routes in the hard way to achieve peace. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet and share experience with the representatives of peace-building and human rights organizations from Latin America.
The course “Mobile Academy of Peace – OMNIBUS 1325” gets funding from the project “Civic” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Heinrich Boll Foundation and “Apfelbaum” Evolution Fund.