Parents and Students benefit from Conflict Resolution Strategies

The JN Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and emotional wellness through its Parent and Child Empowerment (PACE) Seminar, held virtually recently under the theme, “Conflict, Communication and Confidence – Self-Management for Youth.”

Hosted as part of its longstanding JN Scholarship Programme, the seminar provided a platform for parents, students, and resource persons to discuss practical strategies for managing conflict, strengthening communication, and building confidence.

The event featured a panel presentation by Maleek Powell, motivational speaker and media personality; Sergeant Andrew Williams, national coordinator for the Safe Schools Unit in the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and Minister Simone Gibbs, lecturer and guidance counsellor at Shortwood Teachers’ College.  Guest speaker at the event was Tashana Hutchinson, Parish Child Diversion Officer in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Mr Powell emphasised that effective communication plays a critical role in helping to manage and resolve disagreements.

“Conflict, when well-managed, can help to deepen and strengthen our relationships. Conflict rarely lives in the problems that we’re experiencing. Ninety per cent of the time conflict lives around how the issue is communicated,” he noted.

Among the communication barriers he highlighted were listening only to respond, using accusatory language, and speaking in the wrong tone or at the wrong time.

“Most of us, when someone is speaking, we’re already formulating the response. We’re not listening to what the person said, we’re just gearing up to fire back.”

He encouraged participants to practise active listening and use “I” statements instead of blame-filled language.

“You’re no longer attacking the person; you’re conveying the frustration that you have, and that expression invites dialog, while accusation invites war and contention,” he explained.

To help defuse tension and strengthen communication, he encouraged participants to adopt a thoughtful approach to conflict resolution by using the phase: “Help me understand your perspective.”

“Those five words signal that I am not here to fight. I am here to connect with you.”

Meanwhile, Sergeant Williams encouraged students to develop a strong sense of purpose, or their “why,” to help guide them through difficult situations and conflict.

Drawing on his own experiences of overcoming self-doubt and negative labels as a youth, Sergeant Williams told participants that having a strong sense of purpose helped him manage internal conflicts and stay focused on a positive path. 

“What got me through it was my why. Why am I doing this?” he shared.

“When conflict comes your way, you must have something to hold on to say this is the reason I will not go down that path. So many times, we get into conflicts and there is a deep-rooted cause and nobody takes time out to ask why.”

He also urged parents to be mindful of the words they speak to their children, warning that negative comments can shape how young people see themselves.

“Parents, you have to understand that the words that come out of your mouth will form the narrative for your child as to what they believe in as it relates to their future,” he stressed. “If you don’t guide them positively, somebody else will.”

Minister Gibbs explained that self-awareness and self-regulation are essential skills that enable individuals to understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, particularly during stressful situations.

“Your ability to be calm allows you to think clearly and make rational decisions. When you can’t control your thoughts and emotions, you make decisions that turn out to be detrimental to you.”

She further noted that self-awareness and emotional control help individuals diffuse volatile situations, explaining that when people can self-regulate and understand how they respond, they can take the necessary steps to de-escalate and resolve conflicts.

“Being aware of some of the things that trigger you and being able to manage these can allow you to not be derailed, allow you to not be distracted, and allow you to not only focus on your objective but to be able to do what it takes in order to achieve your long-term goals,” she said.

Highlighting that a significant number of the offences referred to the Child Diversion Programme are due to unresolved conflicts and poor conflict-management skills, Ms Hutchinson said the programme helps young people to respond to challenges in a more constructive manner. She noted that the programme stands ready to offer its services and encouraged persons to reach out to the unit if they need assistance.

“We’re not just talking about a child staying out of trouble but also helping young people to build character and develop skills and emotional intelligence that are necessary to resolve conflict in a positive way.”

“We realize that when it comes to children with behaviour challenges, it is stemming from some other psychosocial challenge that they’re having,” she shared, adding that many of the offences committed are as a result of conflict that was not handled appropriately.

The session formed part of the JN Foundation’s ongoing efforts to empower scholarship recipients and their families with practical tools to support academic success and personal development.

For more than four decades, the JN Scholarship Programme has supported scores of children pursuing secondary education.