Jackeline Mardenborough receiving a token of appreciation from Rotary Mid Isle President Denise Antrobus.
PHILIPSBURG–Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution are Rotarians’ main focus for the month of February during the course of the Rotary year. Jackeline Mardenborough, better known as Jackie, gave a presentation to Rotary Club of St. Maarten-Mid Isle on “Peace and Conflict Resolution through Community Mobilisation.” Jackie is currently a social worker with the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation.
Community mobilisation is the act of encouraging and engaging the community to participate in the creation of safe communities, which will contribute to improving the quality of life of the people in that community. This process must involve the whole community.
“Every person has the right to feel and be safe in their community, and when all members understand and support this sentiment they can work together to make positive changes in the physical structure, the policies, and the attitudes that shape our society,” stated the Rotary Club on Monday.
Community mobilisation is important because the community itself is ultimately responsible for and affected by situations of safety or insecurity. To prepare the community for mobilisation, a framework is put in place that includes exploring the common issues; setting priorities; and planning, acting and evaluating together.
Social mobilisation is another approach to get persons involved in making a difference in their society. This is an integrative process whereby stakeholders are stimulated to become active participants in social change, using diverse strategies to meet shared goals.
One of the programmes in place in St. Maarten that is a reflection of both community and social mobilisation is Teens and Police Service (TAPS). This provides a better understanding of what it means to be a police officer through scenarios and specific topic areas associated with children and youth safety.
“Among some of the topics discussed with the students are conflict resolution, what to do when stopped by police, drug use and sales, what happens when they are caught stealing, school fights, how to conduct themselves on social media and loitering.
“Other resources available are collaboration with non-profit organisations, Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice and youth organisations, just to name a few.
“This topic made for a very interactive and interesting answer-and-question segment,” according to Rotary Mid-Isle President Denise Antrobus.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/85544-rotary-focuses-on-peace-and-conflict-resolution
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