When Sameer started his Law studies in 1994, he had not foreseen that mediation would become his passion and main dedication in life. As of today, Sameer Shah is a highly qualified lawyer, arbitrator and, above all, a mediation practitioner with 25 years of active practice and experience with hundreds of solved disputes in its portfolio. Besides, Sameer’s dedication to mediation led him to broaden his action as a mediation promoter. In fact, he is currently teaching and organizing training as well as coaching sessions. In order to promote mediation into society, Sameer organizes various types of learning activities for law school students as well as he is involved in organizing trainings for aspirant mediators and arbitrators. “Whatever I do, I do it for giving back to society what life has given to me. It may seem a lot to do, having a busy working life, but it is my passion, so it turns out to be satisfying and not burdening as one may think.”

From law to peace, from litigation to mediation

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law at the University of Delhi, and immediately after started practicing as a Senior Associate for a law firm in Ahmedabad, his native town. As a key expert in arbitration and litigation processes, Sameer began earning confidence with multiple areas of dispute resolution expertise, having to deal with a wide range of legal cases, from commercial disputes to matrimonial cases. Such experience brought him to establish his own legal firm in 2003, the S.U. Shah & Associates, that assists various groups of clients with different needs. As a lawyer, he is also currently a Senior Partner of one of the most renowned legal firms of India – Trust Legal Advocates & Consultants.

Sameer never studied mediation, but as the years passed, he got into contact with colleagues and experts that gradually induced him to it. It did not pass long for mediation processes to become his passion. “During my early career, I realized that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration were unable to provide the required solution to the range and quantity of disputes in India. That is the reason I got passionate into mediation, which I believe to be the most effective amongst all the ADR methods.” In his activity as a mediator, Sameer deals with a great variety of cases but he prefers not to conform himself to a strict and rigid scheme of mediation. After all, the power of mediation undoubtedly lies in the flexibility and openness of the process, which adapts according to the necessities and attitudes of the parties. In this way, Sameer applies and mixes various types of mediation (facilitative, transformative and evaluative) depending upon the case.

But Sameer does not like to limit himself. Aside from being an active mediator, his engagement with mediation covers various areas and scopes. For instance, he makes parts of several authoritative bodies engaged with mediation worldwide, such as the Hong Kong Joint Mediation Centre and the Alliance for Equality in Dispute Resolution. Finally, Sameer is deeply committed to awareness-raising efforts aimed at broadening the impact of mediation within Indian society. As a promoter of mediation, he organizes workshops, seminars, and trainings to Senior Law university students in order to sponsor the effectiveness of mediation processes and shape their attitudes towards the way disputes resolution is perceived. During several years, he has also been an organizer and Panel Arbitrator of several Moot Competitions in India and Honk Kong. For those unfamiliar with this term, a Moot Competition gathers aspiring arbitrators and mediators in a simulation of various dispute resolution processes, in order to equip them with the first-hand experience and enhance their professional skills in mediation.

Throughout the years spent dealing with litigation, arbitration, and mediation cases, Sameer reached a conclusion: “Mediation undoubtedly stands as the most effective and passionate way to solve disputes. One of the greatest advantages of mediation is its lack of staticity, rule-wise.” Indeed, letting alone a few basic rules such as confidentiality, mediation provides a needs-based structure that is capable to vary from dispute to dispute. Here a key role is played by the capacity of the mediator to be sensitive, receptive, empathetical to the needs and reservations of the parties. Additionally, the fact that mediation lies in non-binding principles and outcomes results in more attractive, especially for more informal cases such as commercial transactions or family disputes.

Mediation gaining momentum 

In comparison to arbitration, Sameer believes mediation to draw its strength from the fact of being much more flexible and informal, “this allows the parties to open more easily and being more prone to say what they really want to say, without fears of legal repercussions,” he asserts. It goes without saying that such an open-minded process is more likely to pave the way for a genuine conversation among disputing parties. “As either miscommunication or lack of communication often represents the core of the problem, a process that is able to allow such informality and flexibility is likely to lead the parties to communicate in a more effective way,” Sameer adds.

Sameer is strongly convinced that mediation is increasingly gaining momentum in the Indian society and he devotes a great number of his professional efforts to this goal. If mediation was scarcely considered until a few years ago, its above-mentioned characteristics and pros with respect to other dispute resolution techniques are attracting more and more people towards choosing it to settle their own controversies. In India and elsewhere, what is needed is a more sustained awareness-raising action in order to bring it within the reach of everyone. Noticeably, this can prove to be challenging if the socio-political textile is highly diversified in culture and ethnicity as in India. Nevertheless, Sameer demonstrates great enthusiasm for the advancements that his country is achieving in this respect. In fact, India is among the main signatories and promoters of the Singapore Convention on Mediation. Plus, the Indian government has taken great steps in the last few years in promoting mediation within dispute settlement processes.

Just to mention one example, the Chief Justice of India has recommended for framing guidelines for Law Schools in India to include a specific curriculum on mediation in their academic curricula. In fact, the Honorable Supreme Court of India has also constituted a committee of experts to frame Mediation Law for the country. Surely, an unprecedented result if compared to Western countries. However, what is really needed, and yet partially lacking, in Sameer’s view is a broad paradigm shift in the way dispute resolution practitioners perceive conflict resolution. “An essential part of expanding the outreach of mediation is represented by a total change of practitioners’ mindset in order to see conflict in a holistic way rather than an offensive one.

Shortly, disputes can be tackled in a more comprehensive and flexible way if they are seen through the appropriate lenses, rather than immediately triggering a traditional dispute resolution mindset which often results detrimental to parties’ relations and attitudes among each other. Therefore, the key to an effective conflict resolution must be “A change in the mindset of mediators towards focusing more on understanding the underlying roots of the conflict and elaborating alternative strategies to tackle such roots causes without passing through the Court. Only if this shift happens, ADR processes can effectively achieve a settlement of the conflict without risking to amplify it.”

Sameer has joined MBBI only in recent times but he is already eager to bring MBBI impact to India. As he had the opportunity to know the work of the organization, he immediately got attracted by the degree in which MBBI’s mission overlaps with his own professional ideals and efforts, for the benefit of the overall society. “I find MBBI to be such an amazing platform to work collectively for the promotion and development of mediation within the global society,” Sameer is thrilled to mention.

Written by Matteo Piovacari: MBBI Writer

 Often, we are inclined to consider conflict as an abnormal occurrence, as a bad thing that suddenly disrupts our lives. However, “conflict is more normal that what people tend to believe,” says Zandy Fell. As a passionate expert in employment mediation, she adds that we are already pretty good at managing conflicts: problem-solving is a fundamental part of the evolution process. Zandy carries more than 15 years of experience in the mediation field and she is keen to underline that conflict must not be seen negatively per se, but that it can reach a certain threshold where our biologic conflict resolution skills are unable to cope with. It is at this point that a mediator can intervene to help the conflicting parties ‘shifting’ their perspectives to the point they do not clash anymore, rather they co-exist. Since the foundation in 2010 of her own firm, Zandy has facilitated hundreds of workplace disputes by mixing mediation, coaching, and restorative justice practices to support the contenders in the transformation of their ongoing conflicts. 

“Compromise is essential”

At the moment of introducing her educational itinerary, Zandy explains that while she was earning her bachelor’s degree in Law, she developed a strong passion for conflict resolution. She preferred it to argue and defending cases, as it happens in law cases, wherein the end one of the parties would have won, while the other would have lost. “I started believing that there could be better ways out of conflicts” she recognizes “where both parties win something”. The enthusiasm for alternative dispute resolution processes did not fade during the several years in Industrial Relations at the Toyota Motor Corporation. Rather, these years spent in close contact with a dynamic working environment reinforced her convictions about how disruptively impactful conflicts in the workplace are on business performance. “Throughout those years in the car manufacturing sector I could realize that the quicker you are able to resolve work-related conflicts, the more positive the impact will be on the overall organization”, she convincingly says.

In 2010, both her professional and family aspirations led her and her husband Tony Fell, an experienced mediator as well, to found their own firm focused on mediation. The ZALT Group makes use of all-encompassing expertise around work-related issues, resorting to both employment law and social phycology insights, to develop practical solutions and help companies resolving workplace disputes. Besides, the Group organizes trainings and workshops to build conflict-resolution capacities within the working environment.

“Wherever there are people working together, there will be tension”

Since the foundation of The ZALT Group, Zandy has dealt with the whole spectrum of employment-related issues, working with both multinational companies, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. Despite the distinct working environments, the emergence of frictions between people working together, regardless of their ranks and positions, is inevitable. Some of these can be easily managed and dealt with autonomously. Zandy demonstrates strong confidence in human beings’ capacity to solve issues among each other’s. Other tensions, however, remain latent to the point they burst into an open dispute. It is time for conflict resolution to take action. When a mediator intervenes, flexibility cannot be overlooked. The method followed by Zandy follows a “fit-for-purpose” pathway, namely the initial phase of diagnosis is fundamental to tailor the mediation intervention in order to be as effective as possible. At this point, “the most important thing is to build trust in the parties and to apply a deep understanding effort to the act of listening, in a way that allows us to really grasp the roots of the conflicts”, Zandy recognizes. Similarly to medicine, the prescription of the appropriate remedy can solely stem from a correct diagnosis. This is why this beginning phase is so crucial within the overall process of mediation.

“Dialogue is the key”

According to Zandy, notwithstanding the contingencies of each and different conflict, the key for an effective mediation relies on the capacity to create genuine channels of communication among the parties. Dialogue has a different nature as compared to finding an agreement, which is not always fundamental. “People do not have to agree on everything, it is normal to have different stances and interests that need to be balanced. However, mediation is about people listening to each other, only through this process, the conflicting views can genuinely understand each other’s perspectives”. All in all, mediation keeps at its core the capacity to enhance self-reflection in order to shift prejudices, stereotypes, and perspectives towards their co-existence, rather than a continuous clash. In this segment of the dispute resolution process, Zandy recognizes the essential role played by mediators’ capacity to ask questions “differently”, in a way able to inspire to a deep and self-analytical reflection. Conflicting perspectives can be reconciled only through authentic dialogue.

When asked where the causes of conflict stand, Zandy asserts that people’s egos play a significant role in obstructing a swift resolution of conflicts. However, in other cases, a whole range of factors results more decisive. History, background, personal stories, narratives are all elements affecting the way people deal with conflict, in the workplace as well as elsewhere. However, “humans are hardwired in continuous improvement and from here it stems the capacity to overcome conflicts for the benefit of our common improvement”. 

“The stronger the leverage, the bigger the impact”

When it comes to her interest in the work of MBBI, Zandy is very enthusiastic about the philosophy and practical commitment of the organization. Besides, she is profoundly amazed by the warmth and welcoming spirit of the community that she joined four years ago. She recognizes the incredible strength of a worldwide network of mediators willing to join their efforts and skills in order to have a real impact where most needed. “I like the idea of using my skills to help others, especially the least privileged and I believe MBBI gives the opportunity to mediators from all over the globe to form connections and strengthen their reciprocal confidence in doing so – only good things can come from that”.

Zandy makes also part of the Australian group of MBBI, which in the last year increased exponentially its activities and the number of discussions in order to acquire a more definite structure. Zandy and the other Australian mediators are currently working on structuring an Australia Chapter, able to boost the impact of MBBI in the region. “It is true that in Australia we do not have wide conflicts, but our commitment wants to enhance the capacity and skills to solve the conflict at all levels of the Australian society”, Zandy acknowledges.

In Australia and elsewhere, people own by nature the mindset for resolving problems, of this Zandy is convinced. However, “we have a mindset, but we are not provided with the appropriate tools. If I could gift the next generations with something, this would be the ability to self-reflect, to truly listen, and the ability to truly articulate what you keep at your heart”. According to her, this would represent an invaluable endowment towards future generations on the way toward a more “peace-able” world.

Written by Matteo Piovacari: MBBI Writer

Cheryl’s kind heart and vocation for helping others are vivid. Before getting fully into mediation, Cheryl dedicated his career to social working, assisting one of the most vulnerable groups in American society: the youngest. She was very passionate about her job, helping children to improve their living conditions and getting through traumatic processes. When she got to know mediation, she really found out where she belongs. Cheryl Epps is currently a retired social worker and a passionate mediator, volunteering under the Los Angeles City Attorney Office. Since 2019, she is engaged as MBBI member, after having enthusiastically taken part in the bi-yearly MBBI International Congress held in Bali, Indonesia.

A Career Engaged With Helping Others  

As a human being marked from an early age by a strong desire to help others, Cheryl graduated at the San Diego State University with Majors in Criminal Justice and Sociology. From the beginning, she was interested in giving her contribution to handling situations where a certain degree of interpersonal conflict could arise. A short period under the Department of Justice as an immigration officer at the US-Mexico border let her ambitions temporally down, as she remained dashed by the way some procedures were handling the situation of immigrants. Nevertheless, as it often happens, it is a twist of fate that makes one discover their real passion. Although her main aspiration was to become a probation officer, her application granted her a position in Child Welfare, and she started working under the Administration for Children & Families.

As she worked for 3 years in a residential facility for abused children, she discovered how rewarding was to support such a vulnerable group of youngsters and to grant them brighter opportunities. As her engagement with social work increased, Cheryl developed another passion, which would turn to be her vocation. By engaging with children’s cases, she started to get confidence in the practice of mediation and to uncover its effectiveness. “Many times, I was informally using mediation techniques in order to figure out with the families what was in the best interest of the child. And naturally, my passion for mediation was exposed along the way”

As a retired social worker, Cheryl is now an officially certified mediator. She dedicates her time to the position of volunteer mediator in the Dispute Resolution task force of the City Attorney Office of Los Angeles. Daily, she deals with a diversity of cases, ranging from neighbors’ disputes to land/tenants’ controversies. ‘Volunteers’ means that she is not getting any salary for her commitment, but Cheryl considers that a gift, considering it an invaluable opportunity to make her community better. “At the end of the day, we are all the same. Humans that have to work together, and we need to engage positively with one another, it is what we are.” 

Law Enforcement in the Community: A Challenging  

Cheryl recounts that he most demanding mediation she usually engages with is among the Local Police Department and the civil community, where mediation ceases to be purely resolutive and must aim at transforming the relationship between the parties. This is essential to nurture the backbone of coexistence in the community and have a more healing impact. In fact, if in the other cases of civilian disputes, the unsatisfied parties can always address their case to a court, in the mediation between law enforcement officials and civilians, such a process exists only in rare cases. The aim is then to transform the conflict, meaning engaging the parties in shifting their attitudes and perspectives towards more genuine and understanding relationships. Despite being the most desirable, such a goal is rather difficult to achieve, especially if individuals are particularly sedimented in their own beliefs. What Cheryl considers the most difficult obstacle to mediation can be otherwise called ‘Dunning-Kruger’ effect of reason.

People are so used to see things through their own lenses, growing the conviction of being on the righteous side, to the point they become incapable to see where they are wrong. No compromise with their own belief systems means no openness towards the positions of others. “Certainly, it is a complicated process to set in motion, but when it finally happens, it is extremely satisfying.” Finally, the parties are able to sit around a table to dialogue and to overcome prejudices and pre-existing mindsets on specific happenings in the community. Misunderstandings are more easily solved, actual reasons talked openly, and relationships closely improved. “Law enforcement does not have a good reputation across communities in Los Angeles. But these rounds of mediation engage local communities in authentic conversations which benefit both parties.”

The key to effective conflict resolution? Mediation is a fundamental process to narrow the gaps that might arise among individuals. This happens as mediation has the power to unveil and give space to the real stories, emotions and inner fears of the human beings that engage with it. But for the stories to be effective, the mediator must remain external, restraining themselves from aligning with one or the other party. Impartiality is the first rule for Cheryl. Secondly, showing a calm attitude is tremendously impactful on the mood of the conversation and the behavior of the parties. Calm, second rule. But the most important aspect she is keen to underline is the ability of a mediator to inspire and take out the best from what is at stake in the controversy, uncovering positive and constructive points that people are not able to conceive, often because they are blinded by the above mentioned ‘Danning-Kruger’ effect. “The mediator must be able to show to the parties that a collaborative way forward is possible and beneficial for both. It lies here the secret of our profession.” 

The First Engagement with MBBI: The Bali Congress

Cheryl joined MBBI very recently, just after having found out about the 2019 International Congress of the organization, which took place last November in Bali, Indonesia. Such a recent encounter nevertheless left Cheryl already fascinated by the work of MBBI and by the enthusiasm of its vibrant network of peacebuilders. At first, Cheryl recounts that she was not expecting that mediation would be so largely embraced also by non-Western cultures. What she had the pleasure to experience in Bali is that it actually exists a wide community of mediators from any corner of the globe which are equally committed to building more peaceful and collaborative societies as she is, beyond the cultural differences MBBI gathers a community of passionate personalities dedicated to help others and to bring a remarkable change in their communities, as Cheryl is doing. “At the Bali Congress, I immediately felt this vibe – I discovered a global family of kind-hearted individuals committed to my same purpose.” 

Mediation in the time of Coronavirus: A Call for Action

As the last takeaway, Cheryl shares her thoughts regarding how mediation should increasingly engage the society in such a critical moment of emergency like the one the global society is experiencing now due to the outbreak. She thinks that the contribution of mediation would be essential for engaging civil society in a more straightforward, genuine and open conversation with the government. In a situation of extreme chaos, misinformation, and interrogatives, mediation can bring together the perspectives of both sides, maintaining a reliable and clear flow of information in order to raise awareness without mounting panic and lack of trust. “An it happens for civilian cases, or cases between LPDs and civilians, also in the wake of the Coronavirus emergency mediation can make people understand that we can work together, and we have to, in order to go through it.”

Written by Matteo Piovacari: MBBI Writer

Sometimes the passion for helping others originate from the trauma of having known conflict personally. It is the case of Nani Lata, whose interest in mediation stems from the fact of having grown up in the midst of the Basque conflict, a moment of Spanish recent history marked by violence and behaviours branching out from pain and fear. Such a moment of hostilities lived at an early age ignited a spark in Nani, leading her to become an experienced community mediator in the United Kingdom. She sees mediation as one of the remedies to misunderstandings and exclusive narratives, which are at the heart of every conflict. In addition, to be a mediator, Nani is passionate about language training; she always thought our communication skills are a forgotten tool for reconciliation, for coming together. This conveys the way we enter into relations with each other, and it is the channel on which to invest for moving forward in the inter-personal realm, aiming at building a peaceful, and sustainable, world. However, first and foremost, we need to listen, feel and understand ourselves. Interior peace is the necessary pre-requisite for projecting caring kindness around us. “Mediation and meditation go hand in hand because finding balance and restoring your equilibrium open up a beneficial space for others.”

Between dictionaries, planes, and mediation

Nani’s curriculum stands out for the variety of experiences that have alternated along with her career. Above all, three strands are the most significant throughout her working life: the passion for teaching languages, an attachment to the aviation sector and a deep interest in mediation.

She started her studies trying to pursue a Bachelor’s in Linguistics. Unfortunately, due to a myriad of reasons, among which the conflict scourging her teenage homeland, she had to drop out of her undergraduate studies. Then, after having spent a few years in the UK, Nani returned to Spain and became a teacher of English as a second language. Since this first experience in close contact with the use of languages, she developed a strong desire for helping others develop communication skills as she considered language to be key in the building of bridges among different cultures; a desire that is, evidently, still ongoing. Moved by this interest, she eventually set up a small firm, working in close contact with local companies, big and small, and provided an array of support services, mostly in the form of translation of contracts for businesses expanding beyond their national territory and assisting leaders with presentations. During these years, the nexus between mediation and the use of language started to take shape.

Nani realized how much the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully was fundamental in determining the relations between people, in the workplace and the community, as well as the invaluable tool it is to overcome uncertain, and conflictive, situations. Having left the business, Nani continues to cultivate her love for languages by helping out in her community. She is a volunteer for the local library in the Gatwick area, and co-facilitates group conversations in English for anyone who may not quite yet master the language that needs a boost in confidence or is eager to share knowledge and experiences. “Gatwick is a multicultural haven. We seek to create a place where people feel they can come and share their learning in the use of the English language while we all learn to overcome cultural, social, and personal barriers that get in the way of a positive integration experience within our community.” 

Nani’s wish to bring a change and help others improve their lives fuelled her passion for mediation, that she envisions as a way to support people to communicate mindfully and compassionately, that is respectful of our differences, rather than being led by biases, pre-judgments, and stereotypes that inhibit and disturb human connection. Nani obtained various certifications among which a post-graduate certificate in Mediation and Conflict Management granted by LOYOLA University. For a number of years, she has been volunteering for a local charity as a community mediator, supporting the resolution of neighbouring disputes of various kinds. “In the end, everything is about the well-being of people. In my mediation activity, my peers and I try to help parties to tighten their relations and explore joint solutions aimed at improving their well-being, that is all!” Besides, she is to start some rounds of intergenerational dialogue aiming at filling the gap that emerges in the way people from different generations interact kindly and communicate effectively with each other so that relationships improve.

Since the early 2000s, Nani also likes to work with the feet far from the ground. In fact, she is an experienced Cabin Manager for a UK commercial airline. She considers the aviation industry a sector in extreme need of evolution in the way business is done and now, more than ever, the need is acutely felt among people working and delivering transport services: all hierarchal layers must behave responsibly and silos must open up for us all come together and spark synergies for the greater good. She believes in the power of quality, constructive, mindful, and compassionate conversations for minimizing unintended consequences, overcoming uncertainty and disruption and strengthening our working systems in a way that wellbeing is present in any, and each, of its components. “Mediation is a way to ease frictions among people and to produce caring and meaningful conversation that attends to the way people feel in all system, and even more so in the aviation industry.” 

Nani, some decades later, got back to school, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University. Her final dissertation explores the influence of mindfulness and compassionate leadership on employee engagement and customer satisfaction and how to re-build a sustainable overall system that works for all the stakeholders, beginning with the public which “we are here to serve. We must regain balance, improve communication and coordination, and boost harmony in a holistic way.”

Mediation and Meditation. A Necessary Duo

“World peace begins with inner peace,” once the Dalai Lama said, and Nani strongly agrees. As the first fundamental step to solve the surge of conflicts among each other, or any disruption for that matter, she believes that human beings have to learn to navigate through themselves. Across the dense pile of emotions, fears, grief, hopes, and joys, we have to take a breath, learn to listen to our inner self and find the way to our own harmony. Only when such a balance is reached, it is possible to get to a place where our interests are open to meet the interests of others. Only by making space for understanding ourselves, we can create spaces for answers to be offered mindfully, with respect to our differences, and compassion to ourselves and all other beings, human included.

“In my working experience, I have seen first-hand how the constant pressure we face every day ends up having a terrible impact on our well-being because our emotional needs are not met. Mediation and meditation go hand-in-hand because, through meditation, our personal spaces become ready to open up to others.” To bring peace outwards and live in harmony with others, it is first and foremost imperative to find that space where we can hold and reflect on our emotions and attend to our inner conflicts. Nani’s mindful attitude wants individuals to learn to reframe their own narratives in ways that are respectful and inclusive. There is no need to agree on the same values, but human beings need to discover the power of understanding each other: the ‘power within’ us, rather than ‘power over’. Only then, conflict can effectively take us to sustainable, non-violent, and positive places. Only through meditation, mediation can happen.

MBBI: Inspiration and Expertise

Although Nani is not directly involved in any MBBI’s projects, she demonstrates great enthusiasm for the work of the organization. She decided to join 2 years ago as she felt fuelled with hope in seeing the efforts of MBBI worldwide and support its ambitions. In her mind, MBBI represents an important learning platform, able to get peacemakers scattered around the globe together. She feels inspired by MBBI’s powerful mission and is thrilled by the opportunity of sharing knowledge with mediators from various cultural backgrounds and areas of expertise, learning from differences and enjoying the strength, and warmth,  of such a ramified network. “When I joined MBBI, my aim was not only to expand my knowledge but also to expand my heart by assisting so many amazing people standing for others’ well-being. Thank you for making it possible. Always stay connected and present, and more so at challenging times!”

Written by Matteo Piovacari: MBBI Writer

Michelle Avaroma is a brand new member of MBBI, but has been invested in building peace throughout her entire adult life and is the dedicated director of PeaceJam Mid-Atlantic. To her, the visions of the two organizations really resonate with each other because of their work towards building a more peace-able world. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, to Bolivian parents and often visiting family in Bolivia during the summer, she could ‘see evidence of conflict’ and how it impacted communities. This perspective from early on in her life gave her an in-depth understanding of the ways in which conflict manifests itself in society, and the impacts it can have on community well-being. This awareness was a part of why she grew into someone “who was always thinking ‘Well what can I do to create more peaceful communities? What can I do to do my part?’ because I think that we all have a responsibility as a human to contribute to our societies.” In working with PeaceJam, she has definitely found an organization that strives to contribute to peace the world over.

Empowering Youth

PeaceJam is an organization that works with young people, from early childhood through college, to develop community service projects through an award-winning peace education curriculum. PeaceJam also provides students the opportunity to learn directly from Nobel Peace Prize winners at annual youth conferences. The organization was established in 1996 and is collaborative in nature, working with other peace-oriented organizations and schools in order to integrate their curriculum into more standard education practices. In this way, peacebuilding and problem-solving techniques are introduced to young people (with age-appropriate curricula) early on in their lives, truly becoming a force to build peace from the ground up.

She got involved in PeaceJam right at the beginning of her college degree and has been involved ever since. During her Master’s degree, she was the graduate assistant for the PeaceJam program, and when she graduated she took a position with the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services in Tallahassee, a state-wide non-profit that serves youth in crisis and their families.

One major aspect of PeaceJam is facilitating development projects designed by young people within the program. The projects aim to engage young people in improving their own communities and channel the creativity, energy, and vision into practical ways of improving the world around them. Because PeaceJam is an international organization working in countries all over the world, they are able to connect these groups over Skype to discuss what kind of work they have been doing in their communities. In this way, groups from the US, or India, can compare the problems and solutions they see in their community with groups in Ghana, or Belgium – PeaceJam has programs in North America, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Working with young people is not only valuable to them but can be a source of inspiration for new ideas on building peace from the ground up. “Working with young people, what I often see is that they have so many opinions on how their communities should look, but their opinions are often overlooked because what they hear is ‘oh you’re too young…. you don’t know how things work’ ” But she sees “these young people working in their communities to identify issues and to create innovative solutions. And they have a vested interest too in creating change because they are affected by trauma in communities.”

Amplifying the Voices

Additionally, Michelle makes the point that amplifying the voices and opinions of young people, giving them that validation, has long-lasting impacts on their motivation to continue to fight for positive change and believe in their own value as peacemakers. It ‘becomes part of their identity’, and ‘we want them to be a part of that change’. In guiding young people to accept themselves as they are leads naturally to helping them accept others as they are, and inherently tackles issues of bullying and low self-esteem.

Michelle has been working for the past year to build their organization in the mid-Atlantic region (Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware). She says she is grateful every day for the opportunity to work for such an amazing organization. It is clear that the organization is very close to her heart. Given the excellent and engaging work that they do, it is not difficult to understand why.

Michelle says that in moments of stress or when she’s feeling overwhelmed, she focuses on how grateful she feels to work in this field; “I recognize that I’m so lucky to work in something that is working to make the world a better place. I’m so grateful that I get to work with young people who just want to feel seen, feel heard, and to create spaces for these studies. PeaceJam aligns with my values and creates long-lasting community connections, it is so important and I am grateful that I get to do that!” 

Written by Lizzy Nestor: MBBI Writer