Teachers & Parents – Think4Peace

THINK – Teachers/Education providers & professionals

THINK is a leadership development programme for young people, aged 13–19. It equips them to THINK critically and confidently about their place in society. In the process they develop skills, knowledge, and understanding around core values and beliefs, allowing them to play a positive role in managing conflict.

The delivery takes place at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace in Warrington, which was set up by Tim’s parents, supported by Johnathan’s, after both children were killed in the IRA bomb that exploded in the centre of Warrington in 1993.

THE CHALLENGE

Young people who feel passionately about a cause and who are motivated to help contribute to change in their communities. Those who have been hurt or who feel a sense of injustice due to personal or public grievance.

Our challenge is to support young people to re-THINK the way they behave and encourage them to become responsive, rather than reactive.

Often, we are unaware that their beliefs and values directly affect our attitude and behaviour. With THINK, we help young people to challenge their current beliefs and attitudes that justify potentially violent responses to conflict.

Through the THINK process young people learn how to think in a critical and consequential way; improving ones’ self-awareness and increase confidence in decision making. Participants will also improve their communication skills as well as improving their ability to see and appreciate different points of view. The curriculum covers modules in ‘Leadership and Communication’, ‘Identity and Belonging’, ‘Prejudice and Discrimination’, ‘Conflict Resolution’ and ‘Understanding Extremism’.

METHODOLOGY

Introductory Session:

One-day introductory session at the school or college that is taking part.

We visit the schools and colleges taking part, and spend a day with the young people who are going to benefit from THINK. We introduce the programme and explain what the Foundation does. This acts as a bit of a taster for them, and as they’re in familiar surroundings they feel safe, secure, and are more likely to open up to us. The facilitator for the programme chats to each of them personally, and they then take part in a group session.

Two two-day long residential programmes:

The first of these carry on the conversations from the introductory stage but goes on to explore some of the issues already raised and explores them in greater depth. There are never more than 16 young people on any residential course, and there are two facilitators working with the group.

Initial three-day residential course at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Centre.
Further three-day residential course at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Centre.
One-day follow-up sessions at the school or college that have taken part.

The sessions are comprised of the following:

Role play and forum theatre
Small group work
Dialogue and discussion
Victim and survivor testimony
Games and exercises
Audiovisual materials
External speakers
Case study focus
Individual reflection
One-to-one support
Excursions relevant to the programme

Measurement and Evaluation

The THINK project incorporates a very detailed evaluation throughout from the initial meeting with each young person and at each stage described in the methodology. Amongst other things, we test levels of critical thinking, empathy, values, and beliefs and are trying to gauge ‘distance traveled’ as an outcome of participation in the project. We use a range of research-based qualitative and quantitative methods.

THINK recruitment

We work with relevant schools to identify those young people who would benefit most from taking part in THINK. We then have a chat with each of them to explain what THINK entails, so we can work out if there are any specific needs that should be addressed. We do this in order for them to get the most out of the programme.

Think+

THINK+ is an Alumni capacity building project, building upon on the THINK project. There are a number of modules that look at how to develop effective messages to challenge prejudice constructively, counter extreme ideas and rhetoric, and promote alternative narratives. The project looks at developing the skills and confidence to participate and manage these difficult conversations in peer groups and online and offline communities.
Four schools from across Manchester, UK, have been the first to take part in the project and have produced four films looking at challenging prejudice, hate and other forms of discrimination, and call on people to think again about the information they see and hear, and about the impact and consequences of choices we may make.

THE BENEFITS

Over the course of the project, those taking part will hear from survivors, experts, and former perpetrators of violence who share their stories. They will role-play real life situations, putting in place new strategies to manage conflict and to challenge extreme behaviour, prejudice and discrimination. Participants learn to put into practice critical thinking skills by looking at theirs and others’ behaviour, questioning what’s behind it, and trying to find a solution that is constructive rather than destructive.

THINK benefits those who take part in the following ways:

Participants will be equipped with the necessary skills to argue against negative and violent opinions and will have found ‘their voice’ in order to implement change.

Thinking Skills

Participants will be able to THINK critically about themselves, other people and will develop confidence to challenge personal, social and political conflicts.

Understanding Violent Extreme Behaviour

Participants will explore the root causes of violent extreme behaviour and understand how and why a person is able to justify such behaviour.

Conflict Resolution

Participants will understand why and how conflict forms and feel empowered to resolve conflict peacefully.

Self-Awareness

Participants will have the ability to see how identity, beliefs, and values directly affect behaviour and attitudes, and will gain in emotional intelligence. This allows a greater understanding of the implications of our own attitudes and behaviour on others.

Young Peace-builders’ Network

Participants will have the opportunity to take their learning forward by passing on their acquired knowledge to their peers and community. They also have the opportunity to join the various social media THINK platforms.