Peace Model

The model focuses on fostering nonviolent communication, empathy, and respect for individual rights. It draws on concepts from human rights, social psychology, and education to create an accessible framework for building peaceful communities. The model emphasizes practical, everyday actions that promote understanding and reduce conflict.

Adapting the Framework

Partnering with local organizations like Ensamblando Vidas, I ensured that my peace model was accessible and practical for their community. My role involved guiding facilitators on how to interpret and use the framework to design activities that would resonate with the children. The local teams then led workshops focusing on nonviolent communication and respect for individual rights.

Workshops and Activities

The workshops were held at a community center, a hub for social development in Fracción Milpillas. Activities focused on sentience rights helped children value their own experiences and those of others. Workshops encouraged expressing emotions, understanding boundaries, and fostering positive interactions. Concepts like building "personal castles" represented individual rights and values, making these ideas accessible to young minds.

Impact and Reflections

Reports from the local teams highlighted significant positive changes: children showed increased confidence in resolving conflicts and there was a noticeable reduction in bullying. These results demonstrated the impact of early intervention in creating peaceful communities. By encouraging children to recognize their own worth and respect others, we planted seeds of empathy and understanding.

The project was documented in a comprehensive report that detailed the community's challenges, progress, and the need for continued support. The findings showed that while violence had been normalized in everyday life, introducing nonviolent communication and reflective practices could begin to change mindsets, especially starting with the younger generation.