Since 2000, Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) has been working with students in the Langley School District to provide a skill-based program called “Educating for Peacebuilding”. This program, commonly referred to as Restorative Action, provides students with the skills and knowledge to resolve conflict through restorative processes such as peer mediation. It is changing the culture in the local school system.
As a result of this program, many of Langley’s secondary and elementary schools have created “Restorative Action Teams” comprised of students and staff who mediate conflicts between their peers when problems arise. Every student who chooses to become a peer mediator participates in a four day training which provides the tools to effectively mediate conflicts in their school. Through discussing with students about the choices they made, the negative outcomes, and the impact that it had on others, we can open the doors to a greater conversation and ultimately a greater learning from mistakes. This program aims to be inclusive of all parties affected by conflicts in schools – including students themselves as well as teachers, parents and administrative staff.
Due to its high level of success in Langley, there has been both national and international interest in this Restorative Justice program. The resource materials that were created by CJI in 2004 have become well known throughout the international Restorative Justice community and are being utilized in schools across Canada.
CJI would like to gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support from Coast Capital Savings towards the “Educating for Peacebuilding” program. The sustainability of this program, in partnership with the Langley School District, would not be possible without the generous contributions of Coast Capital Savings. Thanks to them, CJI will be able to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “Educating for Peacebuilding” program in 2010.
