The TD Bank supported Community Justice Initiative’s Educating for Peacebuilding program last year with a grant of $5,000. This grant played an essential role in changing the culture in Langley schools. This year TD Bank is supporting CJI with a grant of $5,000 for two years!
The goal of Educating for Peacebuilding is to generate responses to conflict and harm in restorative ways that work to make youth aware of their responsibility for harm, to be accountable for their actions, and to arrive at solutions that are acceptable to all involved. This program equips students and staff with effective conflict resolution skills. By training conflict resolution specialists within the school system, and by fostering a restorative atmosphere, Langley schools are becoming healthier and more productive places. Students develop strong self-esteem as they learn and grow without fear, take responsibility for their actions, and become mature, responsible adults with strong values.
This program is continuing to grow throughout the Langley School District as more schools become aware of the services we offer and the direct benefits of implementing these practices in a classroom setting. We are committed to providing training and mediation assistance whenever it is requested. To meet the growing demands, plans are in place to increase trainings at schools already involved with Educating for Peacebuilding, as well as establishing trainings at additional schools seeking this program.
Educating for Peacebuilding runs every year in various Langley schools, from September through to June. Staff will meet with school administrators and teachers to establish the goals for the year and set out time-lines unique to each school. Some schools are involved with a high level of student trainings, to allow for maximum use of students for conflict mediation in the schools. Other schools request more staff and faculty trainings, in order to implement these restorative principles in the classrooms.
Support for CJI and our significant programs and projects are made possible by donations from the community, corporations and businesses. We greatly appreciate the generous contribution from TD Bank as this project would not be possible without their continued support.
