Nonviolent Communication Training in February

On Saturday, February 3, 28 teachers gathered at the Mwangaza office in Arusha for a training in nonviolent communication (NVC). The interactive training was led by Martha Dello with the Nonviolent Communication Initiative Tanzania.

NVC is a major component of Mwangaza’s programming that deeply impacts both school staff and students. According to the Center for Nonviolent Communication, NVC “is a way of being in the world to serve life and to create connection in such a way that everyone’s needs can be met.” NVC emphasizes receiving and speaking with compassion and empathy.

The teachers at the February training serve as Peace Club Coordinators at their schools. Martha used small group and role playing activities to help develop the participants’ understanding of NVC in action. Nonviolent communication is a way of life that must be practiced - it isn’t a one-time learning opportunity. In addition to teaching it in Peace Clubs, teachers also work to model it in how they interact with students and faculty - and even in their homes.

“I am appreciating nonviolent communication because it is changing us,” teacher and Peace Club Coordinator Anuari Musa said after the February training. “From the family, how we are communicating with our children, our partners, and even our neighbors. We are proud of that.”

Anuari teaches at Sikirari Secondary School, where they are also teaching the entire school staff about NVC. “It’s an important issue to be taught to the whole campus, the whole society of the school,” he said. “We are choosing to start with teachers before the students because without teachers understanding nonviolent communication, it isn’t easy to apply it.”

One of the teachings emphasized in the February training was around how we are responsible for our feelings, interactions, and reactions. If someone makes us angry, they are not responsible for our anger - we are, and we must separate the other person from that anger. Edna Mbwambo is a teacher and Peace Club Coordinator at Sikirari Secondary School with Anuari. She was deeply interested in reframing how we express anger. 

“After attending that session, I have decided to be happy,” she said. “I was not aware about that issue, so to me, it was the biggest lesson. I have already started applying it at home with my kids and my husband. I can never escape being angry, so I can decide whether to be angry, or not.”

Nonviolent communication has proven to be a powerful tool for everyone in Mwangaza’s programming. The 28 teachers at the training gave up their Saturday and some traveled for many hours to attend, giving testament to how important Mwangaza’s programming is in their classrooms. Thank you to the many people working to cultivate peace through themselves and their students.