Winter  Newsletter  June  2014  

 Alternatives  to  Violence  Project  Queensland  

President’s  Report  Welcome  to  AVPQ’s  Winter  Newsletter,  and  our  first  newsletter  for  the  year.     I  hope   I’m  not  alone   in  exclaiming   ‘Where   has   the   year  gone?’  As  always  AVPQ  has  been  very  busy  since  our  last  newsletter  in  Spring  2013,  so  there  is  quite  a  bit  fit  into  this  edition.  We  have  had   out   Annual   General   Meeting   with   some   enlightening   guest  speakers   and   also   a   couple   of   changes   to   the   AVPQ  Management  Committee   and  Team.   In   January  we   had   an   excellent   turnout   for  The   Alternatives   to   Violence   Project   Asia   West   Pacific   Regional  Gathering   held   at   the   stunning   Theosophical   Society   Retreat   in  tranquil  Springbrook.    

 Workshops   have   been   continuing   with   our  first   set   of   three   workshops   already  complete   in   Southern   Queensland  Correctional   Centre.   We   have   already   held  our  first  Social  Event  for  the  year  and  have  a  number   of   others   planned.   Judith   has  finished   her   tenure   as   our   Workshop  Coordinator   handing   over   the   Yasmin.   We  also   welcome   baby   Brian   to   the   AVPQ  community  after  AVP   facilitator  Susan  gave  birth  in  January  2014.  

Thank  you  Jude!  I  want   to   take   the  opportunity   to   thank   Judith  Pembleton  for   her   years   of   service   to   the   role   of   Workshop  Coordinator  with  AVPQ.   Jude  has  worked  tirelessly  in   this  role  doing  much  of  the  heavy  lifting  within  the  organisation  –   most   notably   organizing   and   running   our   community  workshops.   As   anyone  who   has   done   this   role   can   attest,  this   can   be   a  mammoth   task   and   requires   someone   with  energy,   persistence   and   compassion   –   Jude   certainly   fits  the   bill!   Jude   likes   to   go   out  with   a   bang   so   her   final   feat  was  to  organize  the  Regional  Gathering  in  January  this  year  –  anyone  who  was  there  will  know  just  how  well  organized  it  was!   Jude  will   continue   to   be   involved  with   AVPQ   as   a  supporter   and   workshop   facilitator.   Jude   will   also   be  devoting  more  of  her  time  to  her  counselling  work  and  also  to  her  grandchildren.    

Richard,  President  AVPQ  

NEWS  FROM  AROUND  THE  WORLD    AVP  International  Gathering  2014  –  Dublin,  Ireland  13-­‐19  July  2014  Dublin  is  to  host  the  next  AVP  International  Gathering.  The  programme  is  being  developed  as  we  speak,  yet  we  already  know  that  there  may  be  representatives  from  AVP  groups  in  34  countries.   All   participants  will   be   accommodated   on   site   in   Maynooth   Universit   Campus.  Regions  will  meet,  and  there  will  be  plenty  of  opportunities  for  skills  building  and  sharing.  One   day   of   the   Gahtering   will   be   hosted   by   AVP  colleagues   conducting   workshops   in   Wheatfield  Prison.  Pre-­‐gathering  workshops  include:  -­‐ Discernment  -­‐ Healing  and  Rebuilding  Our  Communities  (HROC)  -­‐ Dealing  with   behaviour   challenges   in   AVP   youth  

workshops  -­‐ Exploring  Restorative  Practices  -­‐ Trauma  Resiliency  

AVP  IN  THE  NEWS  Article  on  AVP  in  Nairobi  Slums  Mathare  to  host  peace  meeting  (Lynet  Igadwah,  Nairobi  News)  Mathare  area  will   tomorrow  host  a  forum  that  seeks  to   foster  peaceful  coexistence  among  residents.   The   area   is   one   of   the   most   volatile   in   the   country   with   the   latest   incident  occurring   a   year   ago   where   residents   clashed   following   a   Supreme   Court   ruling   on   the  presidential   election   petition.   The  workshop   is   organized   by   the   Alternatives   to   Violence  Project,  and  seeks  to  educate  locals  on  dealing  with  violent  situation.  AVP  Trust  Coordinator  Mres  Wambui  Nguyo  said  their  idea  is  to  have  both  the  victims  and  perpetrators  of  violence  in   one   room   to   share   their   experiences.     “The   select   20   participants   will   be   awarded  certificates  at   the  end  of   the   three  day  course.  We  want   them   to  be  ambassadors   to   teach  residents  on  living  harmoniously,”  she  said.  Emily  Schwartz,  AVP  Trust  Facilitator  said  the  biggest  challenge   is  convincing  residents   to  attend   because   they   expect  monetary   rewards.   “We   are   unfortunate   because   those   NGOs  that  went   to   the   area   before   us   gave   residents   handouts.   Our   aim   is   to   instill   peace   and  reconciliation  among  slum  residents,”  she  added.  She  said  that  lessons  at  the  workshop  are  more  psychological  and  mental  with  the  aim  of  impacting  on  physical  behaviour  in  the  long  run.   “This   is   a   person   process   that   eventually   brings   about   positive   change   in   the   entire  community,”   said  Ms  Schwartz  adding   that   so   far   the   response  has  been  good,  with   those  already  trained  requesting  more  sessions.  

NEWS  FROM  AROUND  AUSTRALIA    Research  on  the  AVP  Youth  Programme  in  WA  As  you  may  be  aware,  Olwyn  Maddock  has  run  the  AVP  Youth  Programme  in  Perth-­‐based  Warnbro   Community   High   School   for   the   past   seven   years.   Olwyn,   Anna   Alderson   and  Rosemary  Cent  have  just  received  approval  from  the  Department  of  Education  to  undertake  a   six   month   evaluation   of   the   AVP   Programme   in   the   South   metro   region.   They   hope   to  publish  some  preliminary  results  at  the  International  Gathering.  

The  research  will  start  with  qualitative  analysis  and  then  move  on  to  quantitative  analysis.  The  goal   is   to  assess   the  AVP  Youth   Programme  within   the   framework  of  CASEL,   a  meta-­‐framework   to   assess   social   and   emotional   learning,  measuring  most   significant   change.   A  survey   will   be   developed   and   conducted   upon   return   from   Ireland.   To   read   more   about  CASEL  go  to  www.casel.org  and  stay  tuned  for  the  outcome  of  the  research.  

AVP  in  the  Philippines    AVP  in  the  Philippines:  Last  year  with  the  help  of  Terry  Pinnell,  Valerie  Joy  and  generous  donations  from  AVPQ  for  equipment  and  facilitator’s  travel,  the  first  ever  AVP  workshops  were  held  in  the  beautiful  island  of  Bohol,  south  of  Manila.  An  enthusiastic  bunch  of  new  facilitators  ran  their  first  AVP  Basic  trainings  this  April.  They  would  like  to  invite  one  or  two  others  to  visit  this  October,  to  take  on  the  Advanced  and  T4F  Courses.  The  Philippines  whilst  beautiful,  is  a  very  poor  country  with  corruption  and  violence  throughout.  Visions  expressed  by  the  local  AVP  group  are  to  take  this  training  into  places  of  intercultural  tension,  bringing  peace  in  these  areas  of  conflict.  If  you  are  interested  in  being  part  of  this  visit,  please  contact  Valerie  on  valuable1@optusnet.com.au    

Donations  to  AVPQ  As  tax  time  approaches  some  of  you  may  wish  to  consider  making  a  donation  to  AVPQ.  Whilst  volunteers   conduct   all   of   AVPQ’s   work,   there   are   items   such   as   insurance,   accommodation,  promotional  and  workshop   resources  (food,   stationary,  venues  and  transport)   for  which  AVPQ  relies  on  donations.   If   you  value   the  work  of  AVPQ   in   reducing  violence   in  all   its   forms   in  our  society,   please   be   generous   and   make   your   donations   out   to   ALTERNATIVES   TO   VIOLENCE  PROJECT  QUEENSLAND  INC.  and  send  them  to:  

Secretary  AVPQ  PO  Box  78  

SHERWOOD    QLD    4075  Remember  all  donations  over  $2  are  tax  deductible  and  will  make  a  huge  difference  to  AVPQ’s  ability  to  influence  peace  and  cooperation  in  Queensland.  

AVP  Asia  West  Pacific  Regional  Gathering  2014    The   RG14   was   hosted   by   AVPQ   and   held   in   Sprinbrook   on   the   Gold   Coast   Hinterland.  Representatives  were  present  from  most  Australian  states  and  shared  a  variety  of  skills  and  experiences.  During  the  Gathering  we  experienced  and  reviewed  new  activities  and  worked  on   best   practice.   We   also   explored:   difficulties   and   challenges   in   AVP;   training   and  sustaining   competence;   improvisation   techniques;   Transforming   Power;   marketing   and  publicity,   and  AVP  workshops  with  Aboriginal   and  Torres  Strait   Islander  people,   refugees  

and  young  people.      We   have   received   an  introduction   to   the   new  facilitators   training   manual   and  spent   time   on   continuing  learning   and   development.   We  also  took  the  opportunity  to  hear  about   AVP   and   affiliated   groups  from  around   the  world.   It  was  a  rich   meeting   in   a   beautiful  environment  and  we  thanks  Jude  for  organizing  the  gathering  and  all   those   who   assisted   with  transport   and   with   facilitating  sessions.   Stay   tuned   for   the  official  RG14  report.  

‘I’m  Hooked’  –  First  Round  of  Prison  Workshops  for  2014    Marian,   Heather   and   I   put   on   a   complete   set   of   workshops   at   three   levels   in   South  Queensland  Correctional  Centre  (SQCC)  at  Gatton,  in  January,  March  and  May  this  year,  the  same   cohort   (with   a   few   changes)   through   all   three.     They   were   a   challenge   –   noisy,  boisterous,  fun  loving,  disruptive  and  laughing  –  but  also  able  to  go  very  deep  into  the  issues  they   are   dealing  with.   The   core   group   had   known   each   other   for   a   long   time   (“we   been  together   since   juvie!”)   so   community   building   was   more   for   our   benefit   than   theirs.   We  started   the   year  with   inside   facilitators   that  we   knew  well,   but   lost   them   later   (released,  studying,  just  ‘moved  on’).    For  the  last  workshops,  we  had  one  new  facilitator,  with  a  friend  to  support  him.    In  fact,  the  supporter  turned  out  to  be  an  effective  facilitator  as  well.  I  also  came   to  better   understand   the   dilemma   for   inside   facilitators.  With  AVP  workshops,   they  steer  a  tight  course  between  being  ‘one  of  the  guys’  (and  living  with  them  full  time  after  the  workshop),   and   also   taking   on   a   leadership   role.   Outside   facilitators’   expectations   of  leadership  can  be  a  big  ask.    Prison   administration   can   be   a   mystery   for   outsiders.   However,   our   relations   with   the  prison  ThroughCare  office  are  excellent.  By  the   third  workshop,   there  were  no  hitches   for  participants  getting  to   the  education  centre,  and  organising  the  planning  meeting  with  the  inside   facilitator   was   easy.   However…   the   prison   was   still   in   the   settling-­‐in   period   for  Queensland’s   new   tobacco-­‐free   policy.   A   few   days   before,   there   had   been   a   non-­‐violent  protest  in  the  yard  and  on  the  roof  (‘a  riot’  said  the  Courier  Mail).  The  result  of  the  protest  was   that   several   of   our   participants   got   transferred   out   of   SQCC,   and   our   facilitator   was  caught  in  a  lockdown  and  missed  the  first  day.  So  the  group  was  smaller,  and  our  well  laid  plans    …  well,  we’re  flexible.    AVP  touched  something  real   for  most  of   this  group,   and  they  responded  from  deep  down,  despite  the  boisterousness.  We  were  touched  by  their  honest,  caring  response.  Life  in  jail  is  about   not   showing   vulnerability,   but  we   saw  people   speaking   honestly   and   openly   about  painful   matters,   and   being   supported   by   their   mates.     For   those   who   choose   to   spend   a  weekend   on   an   AVP   workshop,   this   can   be   a   turning   point   to   a   new   way   of   looking   at  themselves.  At  the  end  of  each  weekend  I  feel  grateful  for  the  privilege  of  their  company.    Duncan,  AVPQ  Facilitator  

AVP  Social  Evenings  Did  you  know  AVPQ  holds  social  evenings?  Most  recently  we  met  at  AVPQ  Vice  President  Valerie’s  house.  Here’s  a  photo  of  a  few  of  us  enjoying  ourselves.    Make  sure  you  keep  an  eye  on  our  Facebook  page  to  see  the  details  for  the  next  social  gathering.                  ‘Like’  us  on  Facebook  at  www.facebook.com/avpqinc  

AVP-­‐  Added  Value  Parenting    I   am   relatively   new   to   this   parenting   thing!   And   whilst   I   now   have   at   least   3   years  experience  under  my  belt,  I  am  all  too  aware  of  how  much  more  learning  I  have  ahead  of  me.  When   I   first   started   AVP,   I   was   in   my   early   20’s   and   motivated   by   the   professional  development   opportunity   to  work  with   young   people   through  HIPP.   Looking   back   now,   I  didn’t  realise  quite  how  much  of  an  impact  on  my  personal  development  AVP  would  really  have.    Now  as  a  sleep  deprived  parent   to  an  active  1  year  old  and  a   ‘Threenager’   (3yr  old  going  on   teenager!)   I  am  very  appreciative  of   just  how  much   I  have  gained   from  AVP.     So  what  is  it  that  I  have  learned?  

• That   this  parenting  thing   is  a   really  hard  gig  and  that   I  am  grateful   that   I  have  had  some  knowledge  and  experience  from  AVP  to  help  me  along  the  way;  

• That  even  knowing  SOME  stuff,  there  are  times  I  still  don’t  get  it  right.  Especially  on  those   days   when   I’ve   been   undergoing   sleep   deprivation   training   for   extended  periods!!!  And  that  modeling  sorry  and  making  amends  is  just  as  powerful  as  getting  it  right  in  the  first  place;  

• That   little   people   are   always   watching   and   listening,   so   it   is   never   too   late   to  introduce  them  to  the  messages  and  tools  of  AVP;  

• That  reflecting  on  the  values  and  beliefs  that  I  was  raised  on  was  a  powerful  tool  in  shaping  how  I  want  to  parent  and  the  values  and  beliefs  I  would  like  to  pass  on;  

• That  the  way  I  view  conflict  has  an  impact  on  how  my  children  will  see,  experience  and  respond  to  conflict  in  their  lives;  AND  

• That  I  am  incredibly  grateful  for  the  wisdom  of  the  AVP  founders  for  the  creation  of  a  simple  yet   sophisticated  set  of   tools   in   the  Mandala  that   I   know  will  help  me  along  this  journey  of  parenthood.  It  is  only  the  beginning…  I’m  Expecting  the  Best!!    

Courtney,  AVPQ  Facilitator  

 

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