“Awesome facilitators, ensuring that there would be a diverse group of people to represent diverse ideas” -2012 participant
“I would recommend this to anyone – very transformative, inspirational, interesting, and challenging.” -2012 participant
“I liked the diversity of tactics, great small groups, time for personal reflection, one-on-one sharing, group sharing.” -2012 participant
“Outstanding leadership, excellent timing and flow. Wonderful facilitators!!” -2012 participant
“People from various cultural, racial, groups learned that they can respect each other, value each other, be who they are and still work together towards peaceful change.” -2011 participant
“I loved watching everyone’s learning unfold. An amazing program that I will cherish!” -2011 participant
“This is the best of the many excellent Tatamagouche programs I have taken” -2009 participant
What is it?
Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DPC) is an international program that has brought together the best methodologies from around the world in community based conflict mediation, providing effective tools and strategies for analyzing and addressing conflicts. This is a program applicable to conflicts and disputes in communities, families and organizations moving beyond traditional mediative methods, focusing on conflict content, culture and spirituality. The experiential processes allow practice of the stages of conflict mediation and to apply the tools of “meditative behavior” in a realistic context. Participants receive international accreditation as DPC Mediators upon completion. See www.dialogueforpeacefulchange.net.
International Testimonials:
As a global coalition, DPC is dedicated to creating safe spaces to overcome division through a structured and skilled process of mutual empowerment. There are over 795 trained DPC Facilitators and Mediators spread throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the America’s:
“I have always thought transformation wasn’t possible without blood. Now I think it might be possible.” Filipino facilitator
“On my way home after the DPC Training I came across a conflict between a bus driver and a passenger. It was interesting that all the stages of mediation were practiced in a single meeting by me and the conflicting parties. Now whenever I see a conflict I feel my responsibility to play my role being member and facilitator of DPC.” Pakistani facilitator
“Participants who had said they would never work together were reconciled to working together for the good of the community. Old perceptions, rivalries, barriers, prejudices and even the sense of hopelessness were set aside. We were all very excited about getting back to the table and talking about how we would move forward.” North American facilitator
“I find the DPC toolkit not only very useful in my everyday life but also when I deal with property conflicts. The main secret of DPC is in listening. One should avoid making judgements and putting words in people’s mouths.“ Zimbabwean facilitator
What we do:
In DPC we look at practical ways to manage all aspects of conflict before they intensify. We work worldwide in the field of conflict management and change. We offer concrete tools, developed by practitioners working in national and international conflict settings. We train and coach people who wish to apply DPC in their own lives.
Methodology:
1. The Nature of Conflict. The participants experience a variety of activities, reflections and lectures which enable them to consider their own understanding of their experience of conflict.
2. The Conceptual Framework and Models. The participants learn the key conceptual framework of DPC which includes models which locate and explore the drivers of conflict, peacebuilding and mediative behaviour.
3. The ToolKit. The participants then learn a variety of tools which will add to their previous knowledge and skill sets in order to enhance their work in conflict situations within the community, the work place and within their own social networks. The tool kit includes; conflict mapping, pillars work on framing issues and dynamics, mediative communication and processes, conflict phasing and strategy planning re preventative, intervention and harm reduction, formal mediation and informal meditative and conflict transformation strategies.
4. The Practice and Application. The participants then have the opportunity to apply these new skills through:a. Intensive coached role play on mediation scenarios that are based on realistic local conflictsb. Identifying and recognising the need to build and strengthen existing or new patterns of intra and interagency cooperation and collaboration to impact synergy, problem solving and enhanced learning to generate a wider added value of the social and economic investment of the programme.
Program Cost: $850 ($400 tuition+$50 DPC International certification+ $400 meals/accommodations)
Please register at least 2 weeks in advance to secure you place in this program.
Leadership
Steve Law
Steve Law is the Social Transformation Program Coordinator at Tatamagouche Centre, and trained in DPC methodology in Turku, Finland. He has been a DPC trainer in Northern Ireland, India and North America. Steve works extensively in areas of peace building and community development, and is a former Board Member of Peace Brigades International.
George MacLean
George MacLean is an Adult Educator with thirty years’ experience. He has worked extensively in Nova Scotia but also in Western Canada and internationally in Central Asia, Africa and Malaysia. The majority of George’s work has been in the field of vocational education, teacher training and project management. George is a certified Diversity facilitator as well as a certified trainer in Dialogue for Peaceful Change (DPC)
Amanda Reddick
Amanda Reddick, has a background in Peace and Conflict Studies which compliments her passion for community building and social justice. Amanda is a certified Dialogue for Peaceful Change Mediator, a member of the Black Leadership Advisory Committee and the Program Resource Group at the Tatamagouche Centre, and is interested in processes that lead to healing and understanding. She works with the Canadian Centre for Diversity as the Nova Scotia/New Brunswick Regional Program Manager.