The newly reconstituted Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Wau organized a four-day peace building workshop.
The training, conducted in English and Arabic, was focused on trauma healing, peace building skills and methodologies, and the upcoming elections, SCR News correspondent reported.
The about 20 participants were trained in identifying and analyzing conflicts within their society, in applying trauma healing, communication, mediation and negotiation skills and in formulating cooperative strategies to grant a peaceful course to the elections.
The workshop targeted representatives of the Catholic Church, Muslim community, local government and ministries, political parties, youth leaders, Army and Police officers.
The training, organized with the support of Catholic Relief Services, the US Catholic charity, was facilitated by Healing the Healers, local and international election observers, and UNMIS Civic Education officers.
The organizing commission and facilitators appreciated the motivation of the participants, although some topic discussed were completely new for many, and also their willingness to share the skills acquired with the own communities.