Scouts acquire dialogue skills to promote understanding and build peace
The participants of the Regional Dialogue for Peace ToT Training which was concluded successfully in Harare, Zimbabwe were put in touch with the reality of what is clearly their much-needed actions in the world. Through the training, they sharpened their skills to enhance their contributions to offer support in the championing dialogue in our societies.
They learned about perceptions and misperception (world’s view). According to them perception was defined as “the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.” Misperception was described as “the false or inaccurate perception”.
Supported by Dialogue experts from KAICIID, the training revealed great potentials of the young people to revolutionize the use of dialogical approaches in the NSO’S.
‘’It’s already deep in your values as Scouts and all you need to do now is tap into the knowledge we have helped expose you to and light the same candle with hundreds more, Said Prof. Patrice, a Senior Dialogue Advisor at KAICIID who directly supported in coaching the facilitators and shaping the productive discussions generated by the participants.
Mr. Fredrick Kama-Kama, the Regional Director, Africa also encouraged the young Scouts not to stop the chain of inspiration they had just received. “You need to be frontline agents of Dialogue in your National Scout organizations, among your colleagues and even in your families. You are no longer allowed to sit by whenever your services are needed,” he said at the closing ceremony of the training.
Peace is very important in our lives and it is very essential to our overall well-being. However, this is something that has, regrettably eluded us for years in this World. It has been hindered by war, conflicts and disagreements throughout human history, which have left our world in a deplorable emotional and physical state. All these conflicts and wars are derived from people’s perceptions and misperceptions. It is very important for people to be aware about the different views that exist in all situations and use their dialogue skills to help find solutions to the challenges our societies face. This is something that Scouts have always committed to since inception in 1907, hence the reason for this dialogue or peace training.
Scouting strives to continuously encourage a culture of tolerance, inclusivity and appreciation of all. Being a movement in 224 countries and territories, it is clearly rich in cultural experiences and diversity - all which co-exist with one another. Scouts are taught to become aware of their space within the world and respect that of others. Such co-existence is what Scouting endeavors to teach the rest of the world through programs like Dialogue for Peace. Targeting the young people is a great way of achieving this vision.
Promoting peace and dialogue in our society has always been one of Scouting’s actions to change the world. Scouts across the world do a thousand different acts that are geared towards the salvation of world peace informally or structurally. On a very principled level Scouting as a movement has its values enshrined in the culture of peace and dialogue and the living spirit that these values espouse across the world.
