Generations For Peace yesterday concluded two days of training in Working with Children and Youth, in its first programme held in Mumbai.

Ashok Rathod, a certified Generations For Peace Pioneer, himself from Mumbai, facilitated the programme for twenty-four leaders of youth selected as Delegates from different communities. The training provided these volunteers with new knowledge, skills and techniques for working with children of different ages. The Generations For Peace approach uses sport-based games and peace building activities to reduce conflict and violence within and between communities.

To foster greater understanding between the diverse communities of India’s largest city, Ashok selected Delegates from Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions, and from Banjara, Marathi, Jharkhandy and Bengali ethnic groups.

Twenty-four years of age, but already an experienced facilitator, Ashok’s dream is to empower leaders of youth to play a role in creating a better future for their communities. Ashok was trained by Generations For Peace in Amman, Jordan, in 2009, and since then has been running programmes around India to help the children exposed to drug addiction, gambling, caste or religious discrimination and cultural violence. His programmes also seek to address the high proportion of these children dropping out of school, and the endemic gender inequality in these communities.

“I’m so excited to have held this Working with Children and Youth training programme here in Mumbai, with these committed volunteers!” said Ashok.

“I’m passing on the techniques which I learned from Generations For Peace, for facilitating peace building activities with young children and youth. Training programmes like this are also excellent opportunities to share experiences and learn from each other; I learned new ways of doing things from the Delegates as well.”

Nishant Ghadge, a Delegate attending the training, said: “Learning and sharing with these other wonderful volunteers has really inspired me to make a difference in my community. This training has given me the tools I need to run really fun and effective programmes for children and youth, to address important issues.” 

By co-facilitating this training with Ashok, Govinda Shankar Rathod, Generations For Peace Delegate who was previously trained at Ashok’s programmes in Goa, completed his requirements to become certified as a Generations For Peace Pioneer. All Pioneers receive a certificate signed by HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, the Founder and Chairman of Generations For Peace.