MUMBAI | Indian Seeds honed their dialogue facilitation skills during two weekend programs in September and October led by Zeenia, a 2009 Indian Seed and experienced dialogue facilitator.
The first training, held September 15 to 16 at The Bombay International School and The Studio. Zeenia took 13 Indian Seed through a series of workshops, role playing scenarios, case studies, and other activities.
“Through the facilitation workshop, Seeds are provided with basic tools of facilitation,” said Zeenia. “Seeds analyze these tools, reflect on their own dialogue experiences as well as get the opportunity to practice using these tools in real time. They leave feeling more capable, confident, and motivated to create more spaces for dialogue in their own schools and communities!”
“The tools given to us were useful in order to understand the group and the role as a facilitator better,” said one participant. “They helped me analyze myself, the process, and equipped me with ways to handle difficult conversations.”
Four Seeds who took part in this program joined seven of their non-Seed peers for a second training in October focused on more advanced dialogue facilitation.
This October 20 to 21 program, also led by Zeenia and hosted at the The Bombay International School, provided participants with a chance to facilitate a two-hour dialogue session for 25 students from five Seeds of Peace partner schools.
“We received a phenomenal response for the dialogue session,” said Sagar Gangurde, Seeds of Peace’s Director of Indian Programs. “Our facilitators did an amazing job. The principal, teachers, and parents were really happy and have requested to have such sessions on regular basis.”
“This itself proves the dire need for safe spaces, and also how transforming a two-hour dialogue session can be,” he added.
