The Alternatives to Violence Project AVP

AVP has been a really formative experience for me, putting me in new and challenging situations in which I get to practice skills in restorative justice and form connections with people from all walks of life coming from inside and outside the prison system. It has highlighted the many differences in my own life to that of others, while also evoking a sense of togetherness in our universal human experiences through the workshops I’ve gotten to participate in. I really look forward to continuing to work with AVP going forward and further developing my facilitation skills while working alongside such a rich community of volunteers.

I first got involved with AVP as a way to challenge myself to see the world through a different lens. Since then I have met some amazing people both inside and outside of prison. I have facilitated workshops for a number of years and I am still amazed at the transformation that can occur when human beings share a safe non judgemental space. I would recommend AVP to anyone who would like to broaden their perspective on the world.

As an AVP volunteer, I've come away from every workshop feeling energised. I've experienced the workshops as a mixture of challenge, curiosity, conversation and connection. It's a powerful gathering where 'insiders' and 'outsiders' come together with a collective goal of exploring alternatives to violence. The facilitators do an amazing job of holding a safe, open-minded, open-hearted space of mutual respect, learning and fun.