SOCADIDO

Introduction.
Mensen Met een Missie is partnering with Faith Voice Uganda (F.V.U) - a consortium of Ten(10) Faith Based Organizations in the Northern, West Nile and Teso sub-region, in Uganda, including Soroti Catholic Diocese Integrated Development Organization(SOCADIDO) /https://socadido.org/contact-us/  - (www.socadido.org ) in implementing a program tittle: "Nonviolence and Gender Equal Communities of Acholi, West Nile and Teso sub-regions in Uganda."  The program seeks to address harmful social/ cultural norms and convictions related to Gender roles, acceptance of violence, property inheritance rights (including customary land)  for boys and girls, women and men and commercialization of bride price(where women are equated to the value of property/ contribution given as bride price). Social leaders, cultural leaders, religious leaders, men, women, youth, Local government duty bearers and policy makers(Conviction holders) are the change agents.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by Marshall Rosenberg is the main approach and methodology in this program. Engagements with stakeholders are done from the grassroots level(community) to district levels to discuss alternative measures and influence policies that promote equality between women and men, boys and girls in the most inclusive manner, with mutual respect and consideration of feelings and needs of everyone in the society/community for peaceful coexistence. Community-based training, dialogues, counseling, and Psychological First Aid(PFA) to survivors, and mediation on conflicts are carried out using NVC skills and awareness.

SOCADIDO is implementing this project in the Toroma Sub-county, Katakwi and Anyara sub-county, Kalaki districts in the Teso sub-region, Eastern Uganda. In 2024, SOCADIDO planned and conducted a Community Stakeholder workshop on NVC with the participation of community leaders and policymakers ( including cultural leaders, religious leaders, political leaders, and local governments duty bearers. This community engagement was done in collaboration with NVC trainers from the 2023 NVC retreat in Nairobi. This engagement is facilitating the establishment of the NVC working group in Uganda that brings together NVC Coordinators and representatives from partner organizations in the FVU consortium. The NVC Coordinators( also aspiring candidates with CNVC) are sharing compassionate communication in these communities as a social change initiative through these programs. These capacity enhancements in NVC practice groups are projected to contribute to Uganda hosting an International Intensive Training on NVC That will bring together many individuals and organizations in Uganda into NVC awareness and practice in the future.

During the workshop, the main objective was to take participants through NVC and leadership,  mediation, restorative circles, sociocracy, and reconciliation, with a focus on the 4 steps of NVC, empathy, and social change initiatives. These empower conviction holders to challenge harmful gender norms and practices through policy development. Project Coordinator, SOCADIDO( Olari Proscovia Ruth, as a co-trainer and Patroba Joshua, Certification Candidate, CNVC,( Also a local organizer of the 2023 NVC, Nairobi, Kenyan retreat as the main trainer.

ACTIVITY PHOTOS.

Figure. 1.

In Figure 1 above, the trainer(standing), introduced participants to the theory and basic concepts of NVC at Anyara sub-county, Kalaki district.

 Figure 2

In Figure 2 above, the participants were getting more familiar with feelings and needs, relating to their personal experiences. 

 
Figure 3

Social leaders, Religious leaders, cultural leaders, and women leaders reflect on their lives and relate experiences in using protective force/power and identifying feelings and needs behind it, with the help of the cards. (Figure 3 above).

 
Figure 8

Participants get back to their seats with joy and gratitude after sharing experiences and guessing the possible feelings and needs behind the judgments, labels, critics, and name-calling, men and women hold against each other. (Figure 8 above).

 
 Figure 9

The Community Development Officer(CDO), Anyara Sub-county, Kalaki District(standing, second from the left) joined other leaders for a group photograph after the training. (Figure 9 above.)

 Figure 10

Participants give and receive appreciation and gratitude from each other during the last day of the training(Whispering appreciation), figure 10 above.