Mediation Culture
Generating awareness and understanding of community mediation amongst youths is a vital part of CMU’s efforts to build a mediation culture in Singapore. Hence, it is essential that students in our schools are introduced to the value of amicable conflict resolution and why mediation should be a preferred means of resolving the interpersonal and social disputes they may encounter in life.
What is Peer Mediation?
As the term suggests, “Peer Mediation” is a process where youths take on the role of mediator to help their peers to resolve their conflicts in an amicable and conciliatory manner. Adults are not involved in the actual discussion or resolution of the conflict. An example of how peer mediation might be conducted is set out in the following video.
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Programmes
CMU provides youth-oriented outreach programmes to introduce mediation to the student population and to teach mediation techniques as a valuable life skill. Currently, we have three programmes:
(i) Assembly Programme
The Peer Mediation Assembly Programme consists of entertaining and interactive skits with amicable conflict resolution and mediation themes woven into the storyline. The skits introduce how mediation skills could be applicable in squabbles amongst students. It is followed by an interactive quiz on mediation and conflict resolution principles. The programme is conducted during assembly times for interested secondary schools.
(ii) Youth Mediation Forum
Held annually since 2006, the Forum creates a platform for student leaders to learn how to resolve conflicts (with their schoolmates, family and friends) amicably through mediation. Past Forums were held at auditoriums, featuring a combination of activities such as interactive skits, role play, talks, a debate competition, a cheer competition, games and video screenings. Participation in the Forum is open to student leaders from all interested secondary schools.
(iii) Peer Mediation Workshops
The CMU conducts peer mediation training workshops upon request at secondary schools for student leaders, e.g. prefects, councillors, class representatives and chairpersons. In these half-day workshops which can accommodate up to 30 participants, a variety of educational methods (i.e., video screening, mini-lecture, quiz, role play) are used to teach mediation skills.
