I don’t know how to choose just one experience I liked most – the 10 days were filled with wonderful moments, so it seems a shame to single out just one. If I had to single out something, it would be this:
- I saw how an incredible team with a lot of knowledge can create a safe space for discussion and honesty, both about the positive things we’ve done and about those we regret.
- My hope was restored that there would be no more war in our region and that we really can build a better future.
- Every conversation about the past, every shared experience, every story about the change we create in our communities and every thought shared by the participants is something that will stay with me for a long time – I even have a lot of them noted down so I will never forget them. 😀
- What I learned during the training about nonviolent communication, reconciliation and violence was mostly new, but it was explained so well that it wasn’t difficult to understand and I felt a sense of satisfaction while learning.
- I really liked the documentaries! It was good to see different sides of various conflicts that we don’t often talk about in our countries.
- Finally, what I think left the biggest impression on me was the reaction of the participant from Croatia – he felt so bad about the prejudice he had about Kosovars and Albanians that he kept apologising to me and thanking me for being there at the training, with tears in his eyes. I think this specific experience says a lot about how the discussions and exercises helped us get to know each other deeply and helped change our hearts and the hearts of others with the love and honesty we demonstrated!
Recommendation: I’ve been to many trainings, but none are like CNA’s training. The approach of the trainers, the method of learning, the presentations and exchanges of experience were unique. You can tell everyone is listening when you speak, and when you sometimes don’t hear a bit of what someone else is saying, you feel bad, because every sentence is valuable and you can learn from it!
The very interesting exercises helped us get to know each other, but also ourselves, and in addition to being fun, they gave us new ways to discuss the topic of the day. If you want to learn from people who are very different from you, if you want to share your soul with others for the good of the region, to challenge yourself and what is rooted inside you, while at the same time having fun and seeing new things, then this training is for you! 😀