In our volunteer’s example above, the light bulb was the simple realisation that language differences are an opportunity rather than a hindering barrier! This urged the volunteers to incorporate more creative activities that allow children to use their body language and expressive forms of interacting and collaborating, beyond the limitations of language. Like a light bulb popping up above your head!

An Aha! Moment is often transformative – it is a thought you cannot ignore, but rather feel compelled to act on. It inspires you to shift your attitude towards an issue you are facing or change your approach. Language, to their surprise, was not necessarily a barrier – instead, it was an invitation for students to explore more creative forms of expression.Ī GFP Volunteer discusses experiences with other volunteers from around the world – an Aha! Moment in the making!Īn “Aha! Moment” is a critical moment when an idea or a connection that was not obvious before suddenly becomes crystal clear, changing your understanding of something or introducing a solution to a problem that you had not considered previously. However, they gradually started noticing that the children were spontaneously experimenting with different forms of nonverbal communication. She shared how her team at first thought translation would be crucial to the success of the programme. She described an “Aha! Moment” for her team while implementing Sport For Peace activities with Macedonian and Albanian children who, while studying in the same school, are taught in different languages, are subject to different curricula, and are never given the opportunity to interact. One of the highlights of the training, which is an annual event at GFP, was when a volunteer from the Republic of Macedonia told a story from her work in Tetovo. But as I listened to our organisation’s volunteers talk about their work in the field during the Generations For Peace’s (GFP) Advanced Training 2017, I realised that this seemingly simple idea of “Aha! Moments” carries a distinctive value for a group of grassroots peace builders trying to bring change and nurture resilience in highly dynamic contexts. In my line of work with peace-building practitioners and researchers, I have both experienced this myself and witnessed it in others time and time again. We have all heard stories of an epiphany or an eye-opening realisation that had a significant impact on someone’s perspective or their approach to how they do things. It was not as if the concept was new to me. I'd never realized that we have the ability to choose where to place our attention and, by doing so, relieve our suffering and bring more joy into our lives.' - Toni Bernhard, J.D.By Aseel Zahran, Outreach Officer at Generations For Peace Or, I could choose not to feed those grievances and, instead, turn my attention to the lovely time people were having right at this moment and to the love I feel for my family. I could choose continue to go over my 'list of grievances' which did nothing but make me more and more unhappy. As I stayed in that little locked 'prison,' I suddenly realized that I had a choice. My mood turned so sour and dark, that I took myself off to the restroom so people wouldn't see my unhappiness. But soon that enjoyment turned to envy and resentment as I began to ruminate about all the fun I'd be missing after I left, especially at the 'adult' party that my son and daughter-in-law had planned for later. When I got to the party, at first I was enjoying myself. Due to chronic illness, I could only stay for an hour or so. 'Two years ago, I had an 'aha' moment at a birthday party for my young granddaughter, Camden.

Aha moment examples