Het Vasthouden van Vreedzame Vaardigheden onder Wijkmediatoren in Overvecht: Succesfactoren van de Wijkmediatorentraining

Abstract

Background: A qualitative study based on the ASE-model was conducted to examine whether special trainings for ‘wijkmediatoren’ (child peer mediators) lead to persistent peaceable skills among ‘wijkmediatoren’ in Overvecht and which success factors contribute to this. Method: A qualitative design is used to collect information through semi-structured interviews. A total of 11 children between the age of 11 and 18 have been interviewed. Results: Analysis with Nvivo showed that all of the ‘wijkmediatoren’ had a positive attitude towards mediation in conflicts and they saw themselves as a good ‘wijkmediator’. However, the social norm in the neighbourhood was not always positive. Also most of the ‘wijkmediatoren’ contained to use different skills they learned in the training. Success factors of the training were the overall guidance, teamwork, the opportunity to make your voice heard, a clear protocol to mediate in conflicts, to learn how to keep calm, to maintain a neutral stance, and the usefulness in daily life. To improve the training there should be better guidance in taking initiative to mediate, use of real scenario’s, an update of the course content, more training sessions and less high expectations, according to the ‘wijkmediatoren’. Conclusion: The results suggest that persistence of peaceable skills among ‘wijkmediatoren’ due to the mediator-training is possible. Further research should include more respondents.