Tanenbaum Center for Intrreligious Understanding
  
 

We talked about things we never talked about before, like conflict, how we handle
it and what part we play.

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COEXIST:
A High School Conflict Resolution Curriculum

In 1992, violent conflict broke out between Christians and Muslims in Kaduna, Nigeria. Christians and Muslims fought in the marketplace and the streets, destroying each others' crops and attacking each others’ families.  Imam Muhammad Ashafa, a Muslim Leader and Pastor James Wuye, a Christian, were inexorably drawn into the fighting.  Both were committed to the fight, and both paid a heavy price—Imam Ashafa with the loss of two brothers and his teacher, Pastor James with the loss of his hand.   The community as a whole paid as well, with hundreds dead and thousands driven from their homes.

Today, the Imam and the Pastor work together at the Interfaith Mediation Center, which they founded.  Recognizing the futility of their vengeful cycle of violence, these Nigerians put down their weapons and now travel the country building peace between their people.  Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye have become a shining world example, as well as two of our Peacemakers in Action.

Using their case study, students learn how to identify the components of conflict and the skills that are used in resolving conflicts in an innovative new curriculum: COEXIST 

             Consider Your Needs and Perspective

   Look At Other’s Perspective

             Examine the Elements of Conflict

             EXplore and Listen

               Initiate a Positive Process

               Strive for Resolution

       Build Trust                                                                                                                                                           

COEXIST is engages teens in thinking through how and why conflicts arise and
teaches them to identify mutually agreeable resolutions.  Journal reflection, action planning, and participation in projects that test theories and strategies help teens retain information and skills for ongoing use.

Through COEXIST, students explore how perceptions, values, attitudes and beliefs can contribute to conflict.  They learn to apply conflict resolution methods to real-life scenarios and to incorporate their new skills into daily life.

The curriculum is divided into 5 units,  each of which fully explores one or more aspects of conflict, conflict negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution.  COEXIST also includes Tanenbaum’s foundational curricula module for educators, The 7 Principles of Inclusive Education.

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