WHMC Receives Funding from Sky Ranch Foundation
West Hawai’i Mediation Center is proud to announce a funding partnership with the Sky Ranch Foundation. Sky Ranch will be working with WHMC to bolster our Peer Mediation Program in Hawaii Island Schools.
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2017 (Hawaii Island) – West Hawaii Mediation Center (WHMC) is pleased to announce its newest funding partnership, a grant from Sky Ranch Foundation. With a contribution of $10,000, Sky Ranch will be supporting WHMC’s Conflict Resolution Education and Peer Mediation program in West Hawaii Schools.
Formed in 1961 and building on more than 56 years of tradition, Sky Ranch Foundation ℠ is a tax-exempt charitable organization committed to giving at-risk youth a second chance by identifying and offering grants to efficient and effective programs focused on improving the quality of help available to these youth.
West Hawaii Mediation Center’s Conflict Resolution Education and Peer Mediation program entails teaching youth about the nature of conflict and the typical ways people respond to it, recognizing and managing difficult emotions, assertive communication, and understanding and respecting differences. Peer mediation is both a program and a process where students of the same age group mediate disputes between two of their peers. Peer mediators do not “make decisions” but rather work towards a win-win resolution for both sides to promote greater understanding and avoid further trouble. Peer mediation is grounded in the assumption that conflict is a natural part of life that should neither be avoided nor allowed to escalate into verbal or physical violence.
West Hawaii Mediation Center’s Conflict Resolution Education and Peer Mediation program commenced in late 2012 with one pilot school – Kohala Middle (KMS), and now engages six middle schools and seven elementary schools, collectively serving more than 5,000 students. Sky Ranch funds will be used to provide ongoing training opportunities for students in these partner schools.
About West Hawaii Mediation Center:
Founded in 1988, WHMC strives to provide an array of high quality conflict resolution services to community members and organizations throughout West Hawaii. These services are available and affordable through the consistent and dedicated efforts of trained volunteers and staff combined with ongoing public/private funding partnerships.