Community

It seems we come eyeball-to-eyeball with conflict everywhere we look these days. In interactions with family members, school peers and office colleagues, we experience conflict in our daily communications. And never in our history of the world has conflict been so visible. With technology always at our fingertips, we can open ourselves to an onslaught of menace as we view news of international warfare, domestic violence and the opposing, screaming viewpoints from politicians.

We are finding ourselves in a world where daily conflict is the norm. In the last decade, classrooms and schools have had an escalation in the eruption of violence. Even our recreation is conflict-based – whether it is on the playing field or in a video game. With homicide being the number two killer of our 15 to 24 year-olds, we need to take action.

Conflict is neither good nor bad and should be looked at in neutral hues. It is a natural state for human beings, but we can work to resolve conflict and manage it in our lives. Psychologists tell us that anger often arises from feeling helpless and that it is crucial we learn how to express that anger in productive ways – not put-downs, blaming others or lashing out.

Insecurity, a lack of self-esteem, the refusal to consider the needs of others and the fear of the unknown can all trigger conflict.

When we empower our youth with creative conflict resolution skills, we help the community become a more peaceful place to live. By being

teachers and role models, we become students as well who can hone skills.

Here are some tips from the Girl Scout Leadership Experience:

• Give kids choices so they don’t have to choose only between acting passively or aggressively.
• Offer ways to empower them with skills to make the choices real.
• Find ways to encourage understanding and appreciation of different cultures, religions and viewpoints.
• Show kids ways they can take action to make the world more peaceful. Get involved in their projects!
• Give kids skills to train more people in their schools and communities as peer mediators or as leaders in conflict management.

Membership in Girl Scouting helps girls to develop qualities that are valuable for creative conflict resolution. Companionship and opportunities for leadership increase confidence, self-esteem and help girls to be conscious of others needs.

Find out more at www.gsccc.org or call the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast at 547-4405.

Marcella Germanotta
Communications Director
Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
A Place for Girls
912 Cedar Rd. , Chesapeake , VA 23322
757-547-4405 ext. 1258; direct 549-0836; fax757-547-1872 marcyg@gsccc.org