It is hard to single out the most important experience from the Basic Training in Peacebuilding, because over those ten days, there are countless important and beautiful moments, as well as those less so, because talking about peacebuilding without moments where you feel uncomfortable would be pointless.
When participants from previous trainings told me about how it had changed their lives, even though I believed them, I could not fathom how a ten-day training could really do that.
What left the strongest impression on me and led to change is the fact that after the training, I became a lot less exclusive towards nationalists, homophobes, people who don’t support LGBTIQ+ rights. Instead of alienating them like before, I now try to engage with them, trying to understand their experience and the stereotypes and prejudices that produced the attitudes they have.
It was very important for me that people shared their life experience and the path that brought them to this training. Their stories, catharses and everything that got them into this line of work and that they shared with the group was an inspiration for me personally, but also motivation to never stop engaging in peacebuilding.
After the training, as well as the study visit we went on, I am much more free in how I write about topics dealing with peacebuilding, because the training and the study trip provided me with so much information, as well as the tools and skills I needed, and pointed me to very many competent interlocutors in this area.
Apart from gaining very many associates and fellow fighters, I can safely say I also made new, genuine friendships.
The reason I would recommend to everyone to sign up for the Basic Training in Peacebuilding is that they will see they are not abnormal, no matter what their communities, steeped in ethno-nationalism, want them to believe to take away their legitimacy. Apart from that, the experience, skills, honesty and friendships you gain there would be hard to find at any other training.