Nonviolent Communication Approach in Adult Education in Historical Museums and Memorial Sites

"Nonviolent Communication" (NVC) is a method developed by Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg, a psychologist and peace activist, in the 1960s. It aims to support dialogue between people and build societies based on empathy and taking into account the needs of each person. It helps in the conscious choice of words to express what we feel and what we want and to increase the chance of mutual understanding.

By initiating the "Nonviolent Communication Approach" in 2020, POLIN Museum proposed to use the NVC method in communicating with its own audience and that of the partner institutions invited into the project. The aim of the project is to introduce this method into the daily work of institutional teams and, through it, to activate groups of adult audiences, primarily in the field of expanding knowledge about the Holocaust in Europe. The practice of partner institutions shows that this topic, as it evokes social discussions, often emotional and burdened with political contexts or stereotypes, requires special attention. During the seminars, consortium members exchange experiences related to difficult situations in dealing with the public and practice using the method of empathetic communication in their work with the audience.

So far, project participants have met twice. The first seminar, with NVC trainer Magdalena Malinowska, took place online in June 2021. It was mainly devoted to learning the theoretical basics of the "Nonviolent Communication" and to using it in practice. The participants trained the four steps of NVC: observing, defining own feelings and needs, and formulating requests.

For the second time, and for the first time in person, the project participants met in Paris, at the Mémorial de la Shoah, in February 2022. Under the supervision of Karine Ducrot, NVC trainer, they practiced empathetic communication by, for instance, recognising non-empathetic messages and distinguishing "jackal language" (accusing oneself and others) from "giraffe language" (empathetic attitude towards oneself and others).

In-depth training in the field of communication was intertwined with equally important meetings with the Mémorial de la Shoah staff, such as Karen Taieb, Lior Lalieu-Smadja, Ariel Sion and Delphine Barre. In the example of the “Hall of names” (i.e. a commemoration presenting the names of Jews deported from France to death centres), as well as selected parts of the Mémorial de la Shoah permanent exhibition and contacts with guests of the Photographic Documentation Department in this institution, the participants - constantly assisted by the NVC trainer - discussed the difficult communication situations with visitors of the Mémorial de la Shoah. 

As part of the project, further seminar meetings are planned in Riga, Skopje and Warsaw. One of the results of the project, which will end in August 2023, will be the creation of a consortium which, in turn, will help employees of historical museums and memorials to deepen their expert knowledge and develop a sense of community in their professional experiences on the European level. In the perspective of long-term benefits, it will be possible to introduce, into these institutions, a model of active communication with adult guests, especially those who would like to broaden their knowledge about various historical contexts of the Holocaust in Europe. The outcomes of the project will be compiled into a compendium of best practices and recommendations published on the European Platform for Adult Learning in Europe (EPALE), available to all users of the Erasmus+ platform.