Conflict Resolution
Project Investigator
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Project Information
This collaboratory uses a qualitative approach in order to analyze and describe the nature and extent of conflict among youth groups. Sites have been established in South Africa, Israel, Lansing (Michigan), Muskegon (Michigan), Ypsilanti (Michigan), and Ann Arbor (Michigan). The project is based on the understanding that youth who do not acquire means of peaceful conflict resolution are likely to become adults who engage in serious wars, both civil and between countries.
The first stage focused on developing a database on the causes and extent of youth group conflict and nature of programs developed to reduce such conflicts. After examining conflict reduction strategies aimed at youth in these places, comparing them, discerning the most effective practices, the collaboratory partners worked together to develop a manual to train young people in conflict reduction. Strategies for reducing conflict that arises as the result of racial/ethnic tensions between groups of youth were integrated into the model provided valuable information for the manual development. The collaboratory partners are currently testing the manual that they developed collaboratively in two Michigan high schools (Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor). When the conflict reduction program outlined in the manual is fully implemented in the two schools, it is anticipated that this effort will contribute to more peaceful relations among the different ethnic and social groups in the school and in the community.
Current Work
The collaboratory has:
- Developed a manual based on comprehensive, cross-cultural research that can be used in multi-cultural environments to train youth in peaceful conflict resolution.
- Successfully provided 42 hours of peaceful conflict resolution education to youth at the two pilot high schools.
- Completed case studies and case comparisons of youth conflict resolution programs in Israel, South Africa, and the United States and disseminated the results.
- Trained 60 students at two schools to perform leadership roles in their schools and communities in the peaceful resolution of intergroup conflicts. These students will prepare an event to share their training with the student bodies of their schools, with potential impact to two entire school communities of about 3,500 students.
- Sensitized school administrators to the existence of intergroup conflicts in their schools and the usefulness of a program such as this one toward the reduction of these conflicts
- Developed tools for international partners to adapt the manual for successful international application.
The collaboratory is:
- Applying the model at Ypsilanti
High School and Huron High
School in Michigan, working to adapt the model to their specific
cultures.
| Elizabeth Smith from South Africa talks about the difficulty of integrating schools. Watch the video. (65 sec) (Requires Quicktime player.) |
Future Steps
- Pilot the manual and workshop curriculum with students at Ypsilanti and Huron High Schools.
- Work with students to present an event to their larger school communities about intergroup conflict reduction.
- Revise the manual to incorporate lessons learned from the pilots.
- Work with international partners to revise and adapt the manual for application in their settings.
- Continue to adapt the model for application in a wide variety of settings to achieve a broader reduction in youth conflict, particularly in school settings.
Last updated: 3/25/05
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University of Michigan
Global Program on Youth, School of
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