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There was a 2-day workshop/discussions around resolving conflict and the role of schools. It touched on topics of diversity, conflict, inequality, peace and explored the role of education/schools. This workshop was lead by Ankur and Pravah, two groups from Delhi who have vast experience working with children and schools. The workshops covered tools used by the groups in exploring such topics with teachers and children. Brief profiles of Ankur and Pravah are included below.
Workshop: Diversity and Resolving Conflicts - the role of the School
Dates: Feb 23, 24, 2004
Venue: Chennai
Background:
Conflicts, violence and intolerance are often propagated by poor understanding of diversity and lack of awareness about our own stereotypes. We sometimes lack tools and skills to resolve conflicts effectively. In most cases school curriculum does not look at the personal social development of children. Textbooks themselves tend to encourage stereotypes of gender, class, caste etc. The classroom culture does not prepare children or address needs of their personal social development and ways in which one can deal with conflict. When there are violent conflicts in our society, the school remains silent.
What?
The workshop covered some of the following aspects
- Role of schools, teachers and education in society.
- Understanding ourselves, our society and diverse needs.
- Ways of talking about diversity and conflicting situations.
- Providing space for children to comprehend the interconnection of their experiences.
- Activities, tools and skills to address these with children
For the last two decades Ankur has been working with the urban marginalised to create alternative models of education that respond to vital soceital concerns and strive for building a society that affirms dignity of life, sharing of resources, participation, dialogue and non-violence. Ankur's activities are aimed towards development of alternative curricula and teaching -learning material for children, adolescents and women. The curricula addresses issues of conflict based on gender, caste, class, religion, nation;and connect personal with the social micro with the macro, local with the global. Ankur also facilitates processes that engage young people to explore their space in the city and challenge the dominant modes of thought. They have also reviewed, critiqued, and provided resource and training inputs to government and non-government programs of education. [More details on Ankur]
About Pravah
Pravah was found in 1993, by a team of professionals from diverse fields in the aftermath of communal violence at Ayodhya. Pravah believes that instead of forever curing in the aftermath of a social debacle, we need to build a society which has the capacity to prevent these breakdowns from occurring in the first place. Its vision is building change makers, because youths have the maximum potential to bring about change in society. Changing their mindset would change the system. Pravah's methodology is interactive and engaging and uses theater, role play, games, activities, debates, discussions, films, documentaries, volunteering options with students and young people, campaigns and exposure trips. Pravah also implements a life-skills curriculum in Delhi schools. This has sessions on self exploration, self awareness, leadership, group dynamics, values and social issues, like gender, communalism, peace, violence, sustainable development, environment etc. [More details on Pravah]
Workshop report