Conflict Resolution/Mediation training

Report presented by Sister Joan O‘Shanahan.O.P.

Our beautiful world to-day is trying to cope with violence of so many kinds.   If we are not working to find solutions then we must continue to be part of the problem.  This conviction leads us to continue supporting and preaching peace, based on justice, as we celebrate the 800th birthday of the Dominican Order (which is a large family).  This peace education programme gives us all (no matter what continent we live in) a perfect tool for teaching permanent peaceful attitudes and to contribute somewhat to a more democratic, tolerant, just and peaceful world.

"If it is possible to train people to make war, then it is possible to train people to make peace"

We are living in the armed phase of globalization in to-day's world, witnessing an increase of violence in the home, in society and between nations.   We are searching for solutions rather than simply lamenting these facts.  As teachers or pastoral agents in any area or social class we can teach and preach that peace is possible through conflict-solving and mediation. We have found in the methodology and contents of this programme (from the Peace Education Foundation) universal values which can be transmitted for the good of all, through the network of educational institutes belonging to our dominican sisters/brothers  lay and religious, in Latinamerica/Caribbean and all over the world.

WHAT IS THE PEACE EDUCATION PROGRAMME?

Two women teachers decided after the Second World War that they were going to educate for peace.  They said “If it is possible to train people to make war, then it is possible to train people to make peace”.   They drew up a programme that was creative, pedagogically sound, based on a philosophy of peaceful democratic relations, adapted to the different ages of the students in schools. 

Principals,Teachers and pastoral agents  are invited to training workshops in the use of the materials, the games and dynamics for conflict resolution and mediation, all of which are available both in spanish ,english,french.   One of the trainers, Dr Frank Vega, a theologian,  made the link between the elements of the Dominican charism and components of  the programme.  However it is not limited  to Catholic or Dominican schools, as it is non-denominational, and can be used freely in public schools without violating their regulations. We found it suitable for our work with the poor in Argentina and our work with dominican sisters at latinamerican level....adapting whatever was needed  to the local contest or group.

The first workshops were given in three cities in Venezuela: Caracas, Maracaibo, and Merida. Hosted by dominicans who mostly have middle class schools/projects with the poor .other workshops were given in:  Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Venezuela, Argentina. And in more than one city in each of the countries mentioned. The educational institutes adopted the programme as a project for the whole institution and achieved remarkable  benefits in the climate  of their classrooms and patios, food kitchens or creche´s.  Both teachers, pupils, parents and pastoral agents learned the methodology and thanks to the generosity and support of  IMRS ireland .  Thanks also to the local federations of sisters/dominican family secretariats that handled all the invitations and organization of the workshops.

My experience of 33 years of formal/popular education is that people need to learn how to deal with personal, family, community conflict, competition between leaders and learn a new co-operative/solidarity language and practise. We have all the theory, theology, spirituality but when it comes to daily living we tend to attack people instead of solving the problem, even sometimes attack other leaders.  Learning how to resolve conflict/be mediators is a useful refreshing workable way to do justice/peace and be effective leaders in to-days world.

PRESENT SITUATION

In  Argentina there has been a remarkable  response to this programme in poor public schools/NGO‘s in the cities of  outer Rosario, Villa Gobernador Galvéz,Sanchez, Bs Aires,(centre/province) Victoria, Cordoba, Tucuman, Mendoza, Las Termas, Santiago del Estero. 
We have invited the Peace Education Foundation to give a training trainers' course of 3 days  in Rosario, for  national representatives. IMRS Ireland  are sponsoring our Argentine implementation and expansion.  Dominican Sisters Patricia (Tarija, Bolivia) Matilde, Veronica, Eileen, Noemi will also implement the programme in their respective areas.
 

For  IMRS national Report