The Domestic Harmonizer Program (DHP) has been a game-changer for our school and a life saver in the areas of discipline as the new Head of School. The program continues to revolutionize our approach to restorative practices, allowing students to develop essential lifelong skills through peer mediation. Our teachers have also embraced the program’s lessons on conflict resolution, leading to a more inclusive and harmonious classroom environment. A standout experience was our participation in World Peace Day, where DHP donated materials for an art gallery and facilitated activities to support us feeding over 300 homeless. Overall, the DHP continues to transform our school community, empowering students and teachers alike with invaluable skills and fostering a culture of compassion and social responsibility.

Partnering with the Domestic Harmonizer Program has been an enriching experience. Currently, we have 30 individuals serving as Peer Mediators. Our Peer Mediators have eagerly and enthusiastically learned essential techniques for critical thinking and effective problem-solving. The hands-on approach of the program empowers students and encourages them to work together to find resolutions to conflicts. Furthermore, our partnership with the Whitaker Peace and Development Program has contributed to fostering a more positive environment, especially with the celebration of International Day of Peace. Our entire school community came together to decorate “Peace Rocks” with symbols and images of Peace. I want to express my gratitude for being given such a partnership opportunity.

I learned that being a peer mediator is all about helping people solve problems with their feelings and their friendship.  Peer mediation looks easy but it’s not.  One time two people had different ideas and it took three days to finish the peer mediation. What I liked was the training, it was good and I loved it.  We had a partner and did practices.  We also took turns being a coach.  The coach’s job is to help the mediators if they get stuck. I love being a peer mediator.

During peer mediation training, I can’t emphasize enough how great of a time I had while being there. The community was friendly and for the most part it seemed everyone who attended wanted to be there, which made a significant impact on the dynamic of the learning environment in the best possible way.

Being a peer mediator helps you be more empathetic and realize how others feel. Being a peer mediator has been a very important part of my life because it has helped me find out how to figure out problems. The skills I have acquired  are the different types of ways people feel, and what words to avoid due to big feelings and high tensions. Especially knowing that I can now be impartial and I know that being empathetic and understanding how someone is feeling is such a great skill to have. Along with the fact that using questions to clarify what different emotions are happening is so helpful. The peer mediation setting is calm and has helped me to become a better listener, a more empathetic person, and a good student. The staff and students at our peer mediation meetings are always happy, patient, and never fail to make us smile.