Bridge Builders -- WORLD WE DARE TO IMAGINE PART 3

 Bridge Builders: Conflict Resolution Skill Building for Middle Schoolers

Bridge Builders is a nonprofit organization focused on implementing training and activities for middle school teachers and counselors on empathy based conflict resolution model. Middle school is a very hard time for many students, with a surplus of bullying, drama, and fights. These conflicts are often not mitigated in a way that helps the students grow through their feelings. They often result with one student simply being punished, and the other told to move on. There is generally minimal active conflict resolution between the students, resulting in continuous offenses and little self development. 

A better way to solve these issues would be to sit down and listen to the students. Ask them what their motive was. Ask them what they're feeling and why they feel that way. Ask them if they know how the other student is feeling. Having these conversations helps the students work through their feelings, instead of having them blow up. It also gives the counselor the opportunity to learn more about the situation, rather than just quickly trying to move past it. 

Through having in depth discussions with these students on their feelings, and how the other student might be feeling, we can help solve the root of the problem. Bullying often stems from an underlying issue, wether it be exposure to violence and fighting at home, or social pressure. By engaging deeply with these students, the counselors can figure out what is prompting the bully or provoker to behave in such a way. 

Some schools definitely already have systems implemented to solve issues these ways. Some teachers and counselors may already choose to help reduce student conflict in this way. However, many middle school teachers and counselors don't have the bandwidth or resources to help students through there issues so deeply. They are instead forced to just discipline and move on. Bridge Builders will provide worksheets and activities to teachers and counselors to provide students with when in conflict situations. These activities will promote empathetic and critical thinking. A one time training will help the teachers and counselors learn how to utilize the activities and worksheets in the most successful way. 

Bridge Builders is a non profit because it is important that schools that lack resources and funding can have the opportunity to use our systems and trainings. The overall initiative of Bridge Builders is to not only remodel problem solving strategies in middle schools, but help the children develop empathy based critical thinking strategies for future conflicts. Helping the future generations become better problem solvers and more empathetic could lead to a much more caring, productive, and efficient future.