Sovata, Romania
9 August 2007
Nineteen new civilian peacekeeping candidates start their training
After a 5-day assessment process for 22 potential new civilian peacekeeping candidates held in Cluj, Romania, 19 people boarded a bus on 8 August for the 4 hour journey to the European Outward Bound centre located in Sovata, Romania. Here the group will undergo a 21-day Core Training, covering such issues as conflict analysis, working as a team, security and risk assessment, exploration of different third party non violent intervention methods, and be put through various simulations and other activities that try to replicate what it will be like in the field with Nonviolent Peaceforce NP).
As a result of the assessment process (which looked at the motivation, characteristics and ability for team work and work under pressure) one candidate was found to need more experience working I groups, one to have better English comprehension, and one candidate could only come for the assessment and not the training due to a last-minute change of her work schedule. The assessment was carried out by Frode Restad from Norway, Lyn Adamson from Canada, who is the outgoing Capacity Building Director, Angela Pinchero, a senior member of the Sri Lanka NP project, and Phil Esmonde, the new Capacity Building Director. The assessment took place at the Patrir training centre. Patrir is a member organization of NP.
The 19 candidates at the Core Training include 8 from Africa, 6 from Europe, 2 from Brazil, 2 from North America and one from Egypt. The training is being conducted by Robert Rivers of Patrir and Monica Alfred from Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the third scheduled trainer, Fatima Schwartz of South Africa, was unable to come as she and a friend were car-jacked on her way to the airport, with her friend being stabbed and hospitalized. They are both recovering, but shaken. Our thoughts are with them.
Once trained the 19 candidates will be available for shorter term rapid response assignments and longer term two-year commitments with NP.
Phil Esmonde, from Sovata
FINAL REPORT: August Core Training creates NP History