AN IMPORTANT DECISION
Veronika leads the chairs of power tool in a conflict transformation training in eastern Ukraine
I learned Conflict Transformation (CT) in 2011 through experiential learning and liked it very much, first, because it’s non-violent, and, second, because it’s experiential, and, third, because conflict is understood as potentially positive and productive force for change. As a result, I made a decision to consciously choose non-violence.
In the beginning of November 2013 I started a 24-week CT Course with a group of about 20 people and with a help of one of my students, who needed some experience in facilitation. And at the end of November the protests in Kyiv began. The state violence against peaceful protesters brought hundreds of people to the Central Square (Maidan). That was the beginning of a non-violent resistance, now known as the Revolution of Dignity. As a small model of Ukrainian society, our group reflected its dynamics: the split into 3 main parties (some supported protesters, some supported the government, some tried to stay neutral), and the increase of violence in particular. Some participants expressed doubts in the effectiveness of non-violence.
The Historical Museum in Dnepro commemorates the war, including the assault of Donesk
With the Crimea annexation by Russia and the beginning of the warfare in the East of Ukraine in 2014, more and more people not only supported the defensive use of force, but justified violence. And, please, understand, Dnipro, the city we live in, is in the East of Ukraine and is only 250 km from Donetsk. And the first wounded soldiers were brought to the airport and hospitals here, and the first wave of internally displaced people came here, and the threat of an attack was real. And there was I, teaching non-violent conflict transformation and communication. Several participants, about half of the group, decided to leave because they thought non-violence was irrelevant at that time, some of them involved actively in volunteer work. Truly speaking, there was a moment when I doubted the relevance of non-violent methods and trainings in a war-torn country myself, but it was obvious that violence didn’t solve any problems and even worsened them. I decided to keep going anyway, even if less than half of the group stayed and even if it felt like being a voice in the wilderness.
Children express their hopes for peace through art
Of course, I was not the only person in Ukraine believing in and promoting non-violence, as I mentioned above, I had a helper, and later I’ve met more people and organizations doing similar work. But then it was about my personal decision, and one of the significant lessons I learned was that my values matter and that it’s important to stay faithful to my values and principles – as a leader you are constantly watched for walking your talk.
Now, four years and several trainings later, with the ongoing war and disturbing rise of radical nationalist movement in my country, there is even more need for conflict transformation, and my commitment to non-violence is even deeper.
For more about Veronika Voloshyna: Click here.
This map shows where the 1.7 million people have gone who were displaced by the war
A memorial in Dnepro to those killed in the war in Eastern Ukraiine
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