“UNBOXED: New Experience for Innovative Ideas” & introductory session to Non-Violent Communication

A group of BSC students participated in “UNBOXED: New Experience for Innovative Ideas”, an event organised by the Colombo Toastmasters Club last Sunday 25^th February 2018 at the MAS ARENA Boxing Ring of Royal College, Colombo 7.

Keeping to the school’s CIE Theme for the month, “Being Innovative”, Minupa, Janek, Nikita, Harini, and Shanelle, along with our very own Toastmaster Christina Kanagaperumal gave up their Sunday evening to listen to some innovative thinkers and doers in our society.

The speakers Saveen Hedge (Design Thinker and finalist of World Championship of Public Speaking), Dulith Herath (Founder of Kapruka), and Jiffry Zulfer (Founder of Pickme) took the stage to speak on how they thought “out of the box”.

On Tuesday 27^th of February 2018, the Sixth Form students participated in an introductory session to Non-Violent Communication (NVC) delivered by Dr Joe Williams and Ms Ramanusha Poopalaratnam from the Centre for Communication Training in Sri Lanka and organised by Ms Jehan, our school counsellor.

The students learned what NVC is and the four steps of NVC. They also did a writing activity where they were asked to list 10 actions that they would feel good and happy in doing. Students wrote 5 actions they would do to another and 5 actions they would receive from another and then reflected on the actions. The students also listened to examples of how every day conflicts between friends or family could be resolved through NVC.

NVC is a necessary life-skill to build strong, harmonious and effective relationships, both personally and professionally. It arms an individual with communication tools and methods of conflict resolution to transform communication positively and compassionately. NVC provides a set of communications skills not only for emerging leaders of our future world, but also for all of us who want to lead successful and happy lives.

Dr Joe Williams is the Executive Director at Centre for Communication Training and Ramanusha is the Program Manager and Lead Trainer for NVC. British School will be offering NVC training to interested students as an after school activity from September 2018. All Sixth Form students will be eligible to participate, especially as they prepare to face the Society as independent, respectful and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.