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| | What is AVP? The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) is a worldwide network of mostly volunteer trainers offering experiential workshops in conflict resolution, creative responses to violence, and personal growth. AVP is dedicated to reducing the level of violence in society, by introducing people to ways of resolving conflict that reduce their need to resort to violence. The workshops aim to empower people to lead nonviolent lives, based on respect and care for self and others. AVP’s philosophy recognizes the power for peace and good in everyone. AVP’s two day workshops focus on personal growth through building affirmation, respect for all, community, cooperation, and trust, thereby helping people to tap into their own power to transform their everyday relationships in highly positive ways. AVP was introduced in South Africa in 1998 where it has proved highly successful with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. AVP networks exist in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern and Western Cape, with workshops being held in and with schools, communities, prisons, NGOs, and at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where it has been enthusiastically embraced by students. |
Links: www.phaphama.org/index.php?sid=192 www.avpinternational.org/ www.avpusa.org/ www.avpbritain.org.uk/ | | AVP in KwaZulu-Natal The provincial AVP Network Coordinator is situated at CAE, Pietermaritzburg. There are over 150 facilitators in the province, where AVP is run at schools, NGOs, CBOs, prisons, with Ward Councillors, refugees and in urban and rural communities, wherever there is political, sectarian or other forms of violence. Provincial community partners in AVP include, amongst others, UKZN Student Leadership Development, the Greater Edendale Development Forum (GEDF); the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) and the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness (PACSA). A partnership is being formed with the Department of Education. |