Alternatives to Violence Project Testimonials

Workshops That Make a Difference

Nick’s Story

Learn about how Nick, a past participant, managed to turn his life around with the help and guidance of AVP WA.

When You Hear The Word Violence

Watch inmates participating in the AVP Workshop in the USA.

Our Volunteers' Voices

Working as a facilitator for ten years has been life affirming for me.  Whatever our lived experience, there is much common ground, and learning from each other within each workshop.   

Sallie

Workshop Facilitator 

Working as a facilitator for ten years has been life affirming for me.  Whatever our lived experience, there is much common ground, and learning from each other within each workshop.   

Jim

Workshop Facilitator

Facilitating AVP sessions in 6 different countries and in Outback Australia for 23 years has been a wonderful experience. It has taught me to be positive and look for the good in all situations.

Sally

Workshop Facilitator

Letter To Self

A powerful workshop exercise reflecting on our younger selves.

To young B,
I just want to let you know you have a lot of potential and you can really succeed in life if you commit to whatever you want to be.
You are the only one in control and you can achieve anything but you have to be there for you. Always respect yourself and love yourself so then you can give the best of yourself to the people around you and be aware of drugs because if you get addicted to them they can take everything from you.

Always be strong because you are Brilliant B!!

To 15 year old me,

Don’t take life for granted. Appreciate the small things in life. Drugs do not solve problems. Learn to walk away from situations you don’t have anything to prove to anyone.
You only have one life so don’t waste it spending time in jail. Talk about things don’t let them build up it’s not weakness.

Think before you do! xoxo

To 15 year old you,

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Almost everything works itself out in the end. Time is precious use it wisely.
Never wait to do something you enjoy otherwise you might never get there or to do it.

Xxx

Negative things – don’t do drugs and finish school.
Positive things – your going to have children and grandkids so please change your ways and be more positive in your life.

Letter to my teenager self I wish I would of completed all my highschooling, not smoked dope, maybe a little drink now and then, watched who I hung around with, stop hanging with criminal peers while they’re doing crime.
Being the better me I guess I wish I could turn back time but we can’t.

Drugs and crime isn’t cool or important. Respect, love and loyalty is what you wil crave the most and what you will want to be surrounded by.
Work smart not hard and love and protect those that matter most to you.

To myself,
There are certain things I’ve learnt here that I plan on using in the future that will help me to grow and keep moving forward.

To my teenage self,

I wish I stayed in school and listened to my old man and said no to drugs. I wish I knew the things I know now back then!

To the young me,

Please stay on the right path and pick better role models to look up to and better company. Look after your two little brothers better and stay home instead of going out for months on end.
Keep playing rugby and teaching your brothers and show them the right way in life.

Stay in school and off the drugs. Stay away from criminal peers and keep playing footy and working.
Save money. Get my licence and other qualifications to help get employment.

Transforming Power to Me

I find that TP is a set of tools or a skillset that I have to refine with regular use. I try not to assign any spiritual or religious figures or names to it.
Personally I believe that the driving force of TP is us. If I go into a situation consciously practising TP, I know that I’ll never use violence.
I cannot control others’ actions, only my own. TP is a tool used to put positivity into the universe.
Only you can decide what you may be willing to give up to choose a non-violent path, be it ego, pride, etc.
But TP can help you to decide.

KK – Bunbury Regional Prison

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