AVP international gathering in Ireland
The International Gathering of the Alternatives to Violence Project will take place in Maynooth
More than 160 delegates from forty countries are gathering in Maynooth in Ireland from 13 to 19 July for the International Gathering of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). The theme of the Gathering, which has been strongly supported by Quakers in Ireland, is ‘Diversity and Sustainability’.
AVP is an international volunteer programme that offers conflict resolution workshops to transform lives. It has been running in Ireland since 1994 and is particularly strong in prisons. Irish Friends have been actively involved in AVP since it began in the country and a number of Quakers are involved in organising the Gathering.
The event will provide an opportunity for people working in frontline situations in different countries to meet and discuss common concerns and challenges.
The Gathering will also include breakout sessions on many topics, including youth, prison and trauma healing. Workshops will cover subjects such as resilience and trauma awareness; the way oppression is transmitted across generations, and restorative practices and techniques.
AVP was initiated by American Quakers in 1975 in Greenhaven Prison in New York at the request of long-term prisoners. A workshop was held for youth coming into conflict with the law. The success of this workshop soon generated requests for more and the idea quickly spread to other prisons. The movement is now independent from Quakers but many remain actively involved.
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