CAIN Web Service
The
EMU Promoting School
Project
- Visit to Aras an Uachtarain
[EMU Promoting School Project - Home Page]
Text: Lorraine Heffernan Photos: Dessie Hasson and Allen Kennedy
EMU Promoting School Project's visit to Aras an
Uachtarain,
Home to the former Irish President Mary Robinson
On the
26th September 1996, the EMU Promoting School Project, teachers and
children were invited by Mary Robinson, then President of Ireland, to visit
her state home in Aras an Uachtarain, Dublin. There twenty-one children
from four primary schools, demonstrated to the former President how mediation can
solve conflicts of any scale or magnitude, and find an alternative outcome
to disputes. After Introductions to the President were made, she was
presented with a bouquet of flowers, a mediator's hat which the children
wear during official mediation duty in the playground, a set of mediator's
guidelines and a collection of pogs, the craze of all ten year olds at the
time. Next, President Robinson sat and watched as the children engaged in
a role play and began to mediate between the two parties at dispute. The
mediation ground rules were set out and each disputant in turn was asked
to tell each side of the story. The President was very impressed with the
children's listening skills and the way each mediator was able to feedback
the information gathered in an impartial manner which satisfied each party
at conflict. Mary Robinson realised the full potential and relevance of
mediation not just in the school environment, but also in the community
setting as well as the international stage.
After the mediation role play, the former President engaged the whole
group of children in an open discussion. At this stage she asked detailed
questions about the mediation services that have been set up in the four
schools. She asked about the location where peer mediation was carried
out and one school from Derry indicated that empty class rooms and the
staff room had in the past provided the venue. The President, who was
seated in a chair circled by the group of children, kept the conversation
flowing while stimulating answers from the children of each of the four
schools. Meanwhile the teachers stood back and were impressed by the
articulate fashion the pupils responded to the questions posed.
Mary Robinson was delighted to witness the practice of peer mediation
among youths, as she has had a long standing interest in the promotion of
Education for Mutual Understanding. President Robinson complimented the
children on their mediation skills and noted how the children's self
esteem and confidence have both increased from the implementation of the
project. Overall the day was very beneficial and increased awareness of
the attributes peer mediation has to offer.
 EMU Promoting School Project - Home Page
© 1997 EMU Promoting School Project
Last Modified by Dr Martin Melaugh :
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