Workshops – Put knowledge into action!
January 3, 2012
Workshops meet every week day at our international summer camp. The instructors are gifted trainers with dynamic teaching approaches to get everyone participating. Our program also offers you the opportunity to get some valuable leadership training. Hearing everyone’s thoughts, building listening and assessment skills and developing techniques to convey your point of view and return to your own community with new abilities to promote change.
Summer 2012 offers:
- First Morning Workshop: everyone takes Dialogue and Peace Building
- Second Morning Workshop: you choose either Crossing Cultures Through the Arts or Green Your World.
GYV offers in-depth training. Instructors show the interdependence of topics, draw on successful models of problem solving from around the world and help you see how one person can make a difference.
Take all this new knowledge and create a plan of action to make a difference in your hometown!
Watch slides from recent workshops
Dialogue and Peace Building
Learn peace building skills and how to respond productively to conflict and prejudice. Understand conflict styles, learn mediation techniques, and how to create a better balance of power. Explore non-violence movements, and how to constructively deal with anger. Develop listening and feedback skills and study facilitation techniques.
“I have accomplished the goal of being able to speak in a large group. I learned about dialogue and conflict resolution.
Now I can go back home and resolve conflicts whether they are personal, family, or community conflicts. I can start to make change.”~ Philip Kane, Northern Ireland
Crossing Cultures through the Arts
The arts play an essential role in preserving and transmitting culture as well as commenting on the issues of the day. Work with Artists-in-Residence who have specific expertise in storytelling and music from around the world. Build writing and interviewing skills. Create stories, video blogs and more using the peers at GYV as your youth voices. Work with professional musicians and ethnomusicologists exploring different musical styles e.g. Middle East, American roots music, African influences in American music.
Green Your World
Explore the natural world and the complex issues facing our ecosystems. Learn how to be a friend to the environment through changing your every day habits to incorporate sustainable living practices. Discover the meanings behind concepts like eco-tourism, permaculture, fair trade, green building, organic agriculture and renewable energy.
Watch Video from workshops in the past:
The Difference Between Debate and Dialogue
February 25, 2011
In your dialogue workshop at GYV, you will learn about the differences between debate and dialogue. Many people don’t recognize that there is a difference, but the following points illustrate that there is a big difference!
Debate vs. Dialogue
assuming there is a right answer assuming many people have pieces of the answer
combative collaborative
about winning about exploring common ground
listening to find flaws, make counter arguments listening to understand, find meaning
defending assumptions as truth revealing assumptions for re-examination
critiquing the other sides position re-examine all positions
defending own views acknowledging other views can expand one’s own
seeking a conclusion that ratifies your own position discovering new options
Obviously, dialogue is more open and builds a foundation for greater understanding!
Lessons on Listening
February 11, 2011
Developing good listening skills is something that you will learn at the Global Youth Village. Participants will discuss this topic in detail in your peace building workshop, but for now, here are a few tips on how to be a good listener. Effective dialogue creates a good foundation for peace and good listening skills are a part of that!
A good listener:
- Makes appropriate eye contact
- Remains reasonably still
- Nods, smiles, responds
- Leans toward speaker
- Sits alertly, attentively
- Facial expressions reflect interest
- Does not check the time often
- Takes notes
- Verifies information, asks appropriate questions
- Considers speakers points seriously
Make 2011 – a year to improve dialogue skills
September 10, 2010
Here are guidelines for effective dialogue that we practice during the Peacebuilding Workshop
1) Don’t ask a person to answer on behalf of an entire group/don’t attempt to speak for an entire group
2) Be aware of your mode of communication – timing, tone of voice, body language, privacy of conversation – all play an important role n how your conversation partner will feel in answering your questions. Remember their sense of timing; tone of voice etc may be different than your own.
3) Watch your assumptions – don’t assume you know the other’s motivations, rationale or opinion, ask for clarification.
4) Check yourself before speaking: is the question appropriate? Why do you want to ask it? Why do you want or need the information?
5) Respect the person’s choice to accept or decline to answer your question.
30 Ways to Build Peace
August 21, 2010
This summer, 107 young people participated in our Peace-building Workshops. Our experienced staff led them through a series of exercises that helped them develop communication and cross-cultural skills. “How do you build peace?” GYV 2009 participants came up with these 30 ways. THIS VIDEO WON 3RD PLACE IN A TECHSOUP COMPETITION. Feel free to add to their list by writing a comment and start building peace in your communities.
Cross Cultural Immersion Music Workshop
July 27, 2009
It’s a catchy song – Nick
We sing it all the time in the morning – Cali
Yin is learning drum and singing. She played piano and clarinet when she was younger, but gave those up.
Nick played the flute in 8th grade,
“We’re learning a lot about music – the high notes and the low, and the between, and the drumming.” A., a GYV participant from Iraq started drumming on the table as he demonstrated what he was learning in his Arabic music class. The class, lead by Arabic musician Sami Abu Shumays, is bringing speakers of more than 5 languages, from 4 countries together to learn to sing and play music from the Middle East. For many, it’s their first experience playing music. M., also from Iraq, has never been involved in music, but has learned to drum for the class. A. has worked professionally as a DJ, creating beats for commercials and songs.
Other participants were already accomplished musicians when they joined the class, but are enjoying learning a new form. Klara, from Germany, plays jazz and classical saxophone, and is excited to be learning a new form of music. Cali, from the United States, plays violin, piano, clarinet, flute, drums, and lap harp. She says, “It’s a lot of fun because we get to meet each other and learn.” Nick, from Chicago, agreed. “It’s bringing us closer together.”
Learning to sing in Arabic has been a challenge for the non-Arabic speaking participants. Cali says the aspirated Hs are particularly difficult. She explained her difficulty, and it turned into a mini-lesson on the correct pronunciation. The Arabic speaking students in the class spend a lot of time helping the others understand the meaning of the music they are working on.
Both sections of the class are looking forward to performing the song they are learning at Sharing Night. “It’s a catchy song,” says Nick. “We sing it a lot in the mornings,” Cali added.
