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.
Educating for Peacebuilding works to address conflict situations by giving students the skills to communicate effectively, to avoid/resolve conflict among their peers, and to understand the impacts of harm on themselves, others and the community. Educating for Peacebuilding aims to promote a culture of peace in schools, addressing issues of bullying and violent interactions by teaching children and youth valuable hands-on communication and conflict resolution skills, demonstrating alternative responses to conflict situations, and instilling Restorative values that focus on accountability for actions. These skills and values not only impact school culture, students take them into their lives outside school, benefitting their families, friends and communities. This innovative project has directly impacted children ages 10-18 from a wide range of backgrounds in both elementary and secondary school settings; the project has also involved at-risk students from Langley’s alternate schools. It has become a model that other districts and communities seek to emulate.
CJI has recently created a written resource in the form of a short book, with the completed title of “Educating for Peacebuilding: Implementing Restorative Justice principles and practices in a school system”. https://cjibc.org/wordpress/programs/restorative-action-program-for-schools/ This book outlines how the Educating for Peacebuilding project was conceived, implemented and sustained in the Langley district. The book contains both the history of the project and the lessons learned from this unique experience, and also a range of tips and resources about school-based Restorative Justice models. It will give school districts and child/youth serving agencies a valuable tool to use when working to address issues of conflict and violence by implementing their own Restorative Justice program.
Educating for Peacebuilding is a timely resource that will respond to wide-ranging demands for information about Restorative Justice based programs in schools. This resource will assist in impacting the lives of thousands of children and youth, including at-risk children/youth, by providing communities with a guide in implementing and sustaining a valuable program like Educating for Peacebuilding.
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 of $2500 in 2009 and $5000 in 2010 from TD Canada Trust, Langley Branches to help produce this book. This project would not have been possible without their continued support.
Photo from left to right: Dan Basham, CJI School Program Coordinator; Brian Gordon, Manager, TD Canada Trust Walnut Grove
