The Canadian Government funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) hosted two Restorative Practices workshops in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as part of a broader programme geared towards increasing access to alternative dispute resolution services in CARICOM Member States.
The workshops, held on September 21-22, 2015, at the Sunset Shores Beach Hotel and on September 23-24, 2015, at the Beachcombers Hotel, provided training for some 68 persons comprising school principals and counsellors, and staff of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Mobilisation.
Mr. Bruce Schenk, Director of the International Institute for Restorative Practices – Canada, facilitated the workshops. On using restorative practices to build a greater community, Mr. Schenk noted: “Ultimately, if you create a community where people feel more connected, then it’s not only going to be safer and healthier with less harm, but also far more productive, whether it’s a classroom community, school, workplace, faith community or the larger community… . Our approach is holistic, it is really more about community building, relationship building and strengthening, and repairing harm as needed.”
