Generations For Peace takes pioneering steps to reduce violence in universities15 September, 2013 – Amman, Jordan: 20 students from the University of Jordan completed a sports-for-peace training programme at Generations For Peace’s headquarters in Amman yesterday. The four-day training programme aimed to tackle the growing problem of violence in universities as the first stage of the “Violence in Universities” programme. This was launched by Generations For Peace in collaboration with the Youth for Youth Foundation, and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), following research showing that violence within Jordanian universities is rising steadily.

Mohammed Jamal, a Generations For Peace Pioneer and facilitator on the training programme, said: “By cascading our knowledge to the students, we have taught them to use new tools to promote peace and transform conflicts. These include sport, advocacy, and youth empowerment. These tools will enable the students to implement their own programmes, which Generations For Peace will constantly monitor and evaluate to ensure their success.”

Anas Talalqh, a participating student, commented on the importance of this programme: “This training comes at a time when we badly need to find the right means and methods to help us to reduce violent incidences. The training is distinctive as it presents a variety of tools for conflict transformation, such as youth empowerment and active dialogue. These tools can help us to become real peace advocates, and to develop efficient solutions to the violence.”

The students will establish a Generations For Peace student club inside the university campus which will be dedicated to transforming conflict and addressing the rise in violence among students. Using what they have learned during their training, the students, as Generations For Peace Delegates, will run activities and programmes that aim to reduce violence and solve problems that might arise between students. The Delegates will also promote the values ​​of active tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity among students, and more broadly, between different groups in our society.

Abdul Aziz Shishani, who participated in the training, said: “I am looking forward to implementing what I have learned in the training sessions. This programme has definitely developed my communication skills and enabled me to work within a team. I am very excited to start working with the Generations For Peace student club because I am confident that we will be able to bring about change and put an end to this disturbing phenomenon.”