![\"Children](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/9be4ca50-46ff-a3d5-9b71-727a21640576-750x563.jpeg\")
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July\u00a05, 2021\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Recently,\u00a011<\/strong>\u00a0WPDI Youth Peacemakers located in Mexico\u2019s Chiapas State conducted six conflict resolution workshops in some of the state\u2019s most vulnerable communities. The workshops \u2013 which were held over a two-month period \u2013 were designed to give children tools and skills in conflict resolution, and they proved very popular, with the Youth Peacemakers ultimately teaching a total of\u00a0222<\/strong>\u00a0trainees.<\/p>\n As one of Mexico\u2019s poorest and most rural states, Chiapas has long suffered from low-level conflict. Although the situation on the ground is improving in many regards, in order to build a vibrant, long-lasting culture of peace, it is vital to empower youths with conflict resolution skills so that they successfully resolve tensions that may arise in their daily environments. While our cohort of Youth Peacemakers regularly work with children in primary and secondary schools under normal circumstances, the COVID-19 pandemic led them to change their focus and work directly within their communities to provide youths with these tools, which further allows us to help develop the next generation of leaders and peacebuilders \u2013 even during a moment of international crisis.<\/p>\n Over an eight-week period,\u00a011<\/strong>\u00a0of our well-trained Youth Peacemakers held basic-level conflict resolution workshops in six communities \u2013 including Nueva Palestina, Ejido Villa las Rosas, Petalcingo, Yajal\u00f3n, Tuxtla Guti\u00e9rrez, and San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas \u2013 throughout the state. Working in coordination with local authorities, they invited local children to participate by publicizing the trainings in schools and other public venues and received an enthusiastic response. Ultimately,\u00a0222<\/strong>\u00a0children participated in the program and learned how to be active listeners, practice empathy, meditate, and mediate conflicts that they may encounter in their personal lives. As many have been living at home for the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trainings incorporated a special emphasis on family dynamics to help the youths adapt to a new normal.<\/p>\n Both the Youth Peacemakers and the children themselves told us that the trainings were very impactful indeed. Karina, a Youth Peacemaker, noted that\u00a0\u201cAll the children were very open and reflective during the workshops. I was impressed by how they felt confident to share their feelings and what each took away from the trainings. I think they served as a true moment of coexistence and learning.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0Sofia, a secondary school student, spoke about how\u00a0\u201cI discovered I can do many things, that I want to participate, and that I want to help my friends when they feel like they cannot do something. I want to keep finding peaceful solutions to conflicts.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"WPDI](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/df5db919-c231-3dc7-f392-a120014ef631-750x563.jpeg\")
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