Peacebuilders International (Canada) is a charitable organization dedicated to building peace and ending violence by helping children and youth who have committed violent acts take responsibility for their actions, make reparations and learn how to make positive choices and move towards a life of nonviolence.

Our Mission:

is “to create cross-cultural partnerships among youth and adults through capacity building for peaceful and sustainable communities.”

In other words….

Most youth in the system come from extremely difficult backgrounds: from immigrant families who are constantly struggling to get by, from households with a single parent whose working hours leave them with no time at home or from families with parents with alcohol or drug addictions. Our Circles programs provide these youth with mentors and a support system which they previously may not have had, in order to help them get back on track and make positive changes in their lives.

Our Programs:

Our programs are based upon a restorative justice approach that successfully engages a young person who has either committed harmful actions within the community or school, or committed criminal offences under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). Based upon a process adapted from Aboriginal healing Circles, Peacebuilders serves Toronto’s multicultural, inner-city communities. Circles include the youth, the victim (if willing) or their representatives, family, school representatives and other community stakeholders.

The Circle Process:

Two trained Circle facilitators lead a Healing dialogue that tackles tough issues and finds a resolution by consensus within the group. The Circle process: creates a safe space for voices to be heard, for youth to feel comfortable addressing the roots of their violent behaviour and for a resolution to take place. The result is a holistic plan of action to resolve the conflict and help the youth to stay out of trouble and not resort to violence. Eligible youth must be: between 12 and 17 years of age and facing possible sanctions under the YCJA or under the Safe Schools Act, willing to take responsibility for their actions, and willing to take action to positively redirect their life.