The Institute´s first Sudan training workshop was held in Entebbe, Uganda, from March 30-April 1, 2005, for southern Sudanese participants. Training Program officer Jacki Wilson was augmented by former Institute Education staff member Alan Tidwell for the workshop, which was conducted in partnership with the Resource Center for Civil Leadership (RECONCILE).
The Institute's first Sudan training workshop was held in Entebbe, Uganda, from March 30-April 1, 2005, for southern Sudanese participants. Training Program officer Jacki Wilson was augmented by former Institute Education staff member Alan Tidwell for the workshop, which was conducted in partnership with the Resource Center for Civil Leadership (RECONCILE).
The workshop, which was scheduled during a very busy time for the southern Sudanese people, featured twenty-eight participants reflecting geographic, tribal, gender, and age diversity. Participants included senior members of the religious community and various elements of civil society, including youth groups and women's organizations. Several members of the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) participated, as did a Payam administrator and two tribal elders.
Participants came from Eastern and Western Equatoria, Jonglei, and Rumbek as well as the vast Sudanese diaspora living in either Kenya or Uganda. Most do considerable work in southern Sudan and all are involved in southern Sudanese life. This connection to southern Sudan, even for those from the diaspora, was vividly displayed when they spelled out problems or conflicts they were involved in, which were later used for the problem solving working groups. In addition to problem solving, the workshop provided training in skills relevant to the peaceful resolution of conflict, including negotiation skills, communication, and a heartfelt discussion of culture. Participants also reflected on their own personal styles of reacting to conflict.
The workshop achieved its objectives of increasing trust and understanding within various elements of southern Sudanese society, improving participants' conflict resolution skills, and invigorating a southern Sudanese "peace network" that crosses sectoral, religious, ethnic, and geographic boundaries. The participants eagerly absorbed the entire experience of gaining skills and building relationships that would help them contribute to a new, more peaceful Sudan.