Workshop explores secrets of a peaceful community

Parents had more than a handful of suggestions and recommendations about fostering a more peaceful home environment in their community during the PeaceBuilders workshop for parents and guardians held at Pacific Island Club Resort Saturday.

Annie Perez, a mother to a 12-year-old student at William S. Reyes Elementary School, said that the workshop was very informative and that more parents should attend more workshops like it.

Perez said that children in her community still roam the streets in the middle of the night, screaming and making loud noises on the street. She said their community could have a more peaceful environment only if parents are reminded of their responsibilities to their kids.

The workshop, conducted by PeacePartners, Inc. senior directors Monica Andrews, Claudette Parker Powers, and assistant director Donna Burcher, compared a peaceful environment, where parents cultivate a calm character in children versus a stressful environment.

The trainers said the latter environment could help achieve a healthy, calm, and self-reliant attitude among the youth, while the former would only foster children that are impulsive, reckless and defiant.

The workshop was organized by PeaceBuilders member-schools William S. Reyes Elementary School, San Antonio Elementary School, Kagman Elementary School and Koblerville Elementary School.

“We are very happy with the turn out of today’s event,” said Andrews, who along with his two colleagues flew in from Longbeach, CA.

Andrews hopes that parents can apply what they have learned in the workshop in their homes.

Other trainers echoed Andrews’ opinion and said they hope the parents who attended the workshop could continue to be the peace builders and make the concepts part of their way of life.

The three also shared the PeaceBuilders’ pledge, which is to praise people, give up put downs, seek wise people, notice hurts, and help others.

Officials from the Office of the Mayor and House of Representatives also attended the event and thanked the three visitors for supporting and sharing their expertise for the benefit of the CNMI community.

Headquartered in California, PeaceBuilders is known for being the anti-violence youth program that is also “approved for the federally funded Safe and Drug-Free Schools Act.”

It is also known as a community-based program that was launched to shift school environment to a more peaceful, productive and safe place for children, as well as parents, school staff, and faculty. (Marconi Calindas)