Training on effective strategies for anti-discrimination work in Ukraine has been concluded

The second and the last training module in strategies of prevention and reduction of discrimination caused by conflicts has took place from December to December 4, 207 in Kiev. Marina Chernivsky from Berlin, the coach of the pilot project “Change of Perspective Plus” implemented by the Central Charitable Organization of Jews in Germany, taught our civil activists various tested tools and methods, that may identify the elements of discrimination, on the one hand, and counteract them effectively, on the other hand. The second central issue-related aspect of training included conducting anti-discrimination work in conflict regions, as well as things needed to be taken into account in it. At the same time, participants received valuable information about the current anti-discrimination work in Germany and got acquainted with various concepts of the memory culture of this country.

The educational course consisting of two parts is a continuation of the training in the anti-discrimination work of the previous project of 205-206. During the first two modules, which took place within the previous project, the participants have already begun to acquire the skills of anti-discrimination work coach in conflict regions. Having continued their studies in the current project, they successfully completed it with the third and now the fourth and final training, which took place in early December.

The first two training modules taking place within the previous project explores, in particular, the causes of prejudice and stereotypical thinking and methods of recognizing their various forms of manifestation. During the third module, participants became acquainted with strategies that can be used to avoid situations of discriminatory treatment. They learned to use different approaches and methods to prevent and resolve conflict situations arising from discrimination, such as the multi-perspectivity approach, the “Empowerment” method (work aimed at self-reinforcing of the target group’s participants, without discriminating the participants’ data), as well as they got acquainted with methods of dialogue preventing discrimination between different groups. Basing on this, Ukrainian activists have developed practical tools which help them to act as coaches in the work of reducing and preventing discrimination as a consequence of a military conflict.

After systematization of knowledge obtained in the course of the previous three modules, the final fourth training was devoted to deepening of the coach skills of the participants through practical exercises, such as, for example, Ochki Trenera (Coach’s points). Through such practical exercises, participants improved their skills as a coach, as well as developed new concepts for various anti-discrimination courses and future planned projects.

During the last day of the training the participants shared their personal experiences and the results of anti-discrimination work over the past year. And those who received mini-grants made presentations of their projects. The documentary ”Transitnyi punkt” (“Central point”) which is also the result of one of five sub-grant projects was shown as well. The plot of the film is about Lemki people, their escape from the combat zone in eastern Ukraine in 204, as well as their background of forced relocation from the western part of the country to the eastern part during Soviet Union times, and it clearly demonstrates a tendency to endue people with certain qualities basing on their origin, and, as a result, the use of these qualities as a basis or justification of discrimination of these people.

In general, along with the aforementioned film, financial support was granted as part of our training to 5 more sub-grant projects, which were implemented under the professional supervision of the trainer Marina Chernivsky (you can read more information on sub-grant projects at the pages containing the project issues: “Overcoming discrimination caused by conflicts”).

Maria Slesazeck, head of the project “Overcoming the consequences of the war together,” was present as well at the final meeting of the fourth module. Together with Marina Chernivsky, she awarded the participants with certificates of the “Trainer on anti-discrimination work in conflict regions”. The certificates confirm and at the same time recognize that the participants during the learning process have become qualified trainers and consultants in the work on the resolution and prevention of discrimination caused by conflicts.

We congratulate the participants on the successful completion of training and wish them good luck and success in future projects.

The result of this project component will be a trilingual methodological handbook on anti-discrimination work in conflict regions which will make it possible for the methods of Marina Chernivsky to be available to other members of civil society. Also, the examples of effective anti-discrimination work in conflict regions on the example of Ukraine will be presented in the handbook.