Model Program
Outward Bound Peacebuilding programs are designed to:
- Inspire in individuals a sense of possibility and a belief in their own worth and potential to make a better future for themselves, their community and their country.
- Assist individuals in pre- and post- conflict situations to discover inner resources and develop leadership skills that will make them effective members of society and advocates for peace.
- Create a space and context in which differences may be acknowledged and respected, relationships with the "other" built, and difficult issues discussed in a safe and supported environment.
- Build a sense of personal and social responsibility and promote the engagement of individuals in civil society.
- Develop and sustain popular support for peace and coexistence in regions threatened by or recovering from violent conflict.
- Contribute to the overall success of other peacebuilding and nation-building programs working in the same environment and with the same populations.
- Advance the cause of peace.
The working model for an Outward Bound Peacebuilding program is simply that—a flexible model that can be adapted to suit the needs of the partnering organization, the participants' cultures and personal and professional profiles, and the specific conflict issues and environment.
Model structure of an Outward Bound Peacebuilding program with a partner organization:
An Outward Bound Peacebuilding program ideally works in complement to a partner organization's program that is focused on a specific issue and works with a pre-identified group or particular sector of the population. The Outward Bound program adds value to the partner organization, accelerating and facilitating the achievement of its goals by equipping participants with the tools to succeed as individuals and as a group. Please see Partnerships for further details.
The model program structure provides peacebuilding experiences to intact groups of 10-12 participants in the form of an orientation, a 4-9 day peacebuilding experience, and refresher teambuilding events for a period of up to two years. The refresher events may take the form of an afternoon workshop or seminar, a day-hike or an overnight retreat, as appropriate.
For examples of this programmatic partnership model, please see Current Programs.
Model content and progression of expedition portion of an Outward Bound Peacebuilding program:
An Outward Bound Peacebuilding program brings a balanced ratio of 10-12 participants from opposing sides of a conflict to a location far removed from their everyday environment. The program will immerse them for 4-9 days in an intensive living situation where they must confront the "other" as an individual like themselves—someone whose common humanity is recognized and on whom they must increasingly rely in order to succeed and survive. The participants will share tents, prepare and eat meals together, climb mountains, rappel, cross rivers and complete a voluntary community project as a team. They will engage in activities specifically designed to evoke and elicit cooperation and enable trust and compassion to emerge. Participants will also learn techniques for jointly solving problems, and will be given opportunities to engage in constructive dialogue about divisive issues in a safe, structured environment. They will also have time to reflect upon their experience during a period of solitude.
All Outward Bound Peacebuilding programs are led by highly skilled Outward Bound instructors/facilitators with training in the Outward Bound Peacebuilding curriculum and pedagogy, and with experience in conflict resolution and group facilitation.