5) Description of initiative: 1. The Centre generates family or group mediation processes, training for schools and community mediators; and the introduction of pacific and alternative conflict resolution models in the schools, territories, workplaces and families. 2. We seek to transfer a constructivist view of conflict, where the result of human interactions is found and where the agents involved (active and passive conflicting parties) embody the conflict and its solution. 3. We aim at positioning people and communities as the main characters in the construction and de-construction of conflict. Making it legitimate, as an opportunity for growth, as long as the people seek collaborative solutions. The organization promotes a culture of responsibility, empowerment and social protagonism of its participants, in a context of a search and construction of alternatives of conflict resolution from within, it meets the action from Rodelillo and all its programs. Thus as long as the people take responsibility, they develop entrepreneurial skills, where conflict is not seen as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to meet each other and to build together solutions in a collaborative manner. 4. The main beneficiaries are: families, adults, children, parents, etc. School communities with its teachers, parents and students. Neighbourhood communities, work teams, etc who require mediation processes and or negotiation.

6) Description of innovation: 1. It seeks to install universal values of peace, by proposing a cultural change that involves everyone. Our intervention does not stop at "applying the mediation technique," but it goes beyond, generating social dialogues that promote change in the dynamics and relationships. What makes us different from others is that our mediation model contemplates the view from at least two disciplines and/or two mediators to broaden and enrich our view. 2. The co-mediation in family mediation. And the knowledge and experience transfer to the teachers and students so they can themselves generate intervention plans with their peers and the whole community. Also we develop programs of Train the Community Mediators and we support university interns at the Centre. 2. From a financing point of view, the participating people, families or groups pay for the services hey receive, which has made it possible for the centre to reach self sustainability. If we can grow, we could also achieve institutional sustainability.

7) Delivery model: Incorporation and permanent relation with the local networks, related to family, community, mental health health, schools, violence prevention issues and promotion of good manners. - Incorporation to the established local mediator’s network from the Ministry of Justice, where our centre acts as a collaborator in the implementation of a new public policy for alternative family conflicts resolution. - Promotion through the media (radio, television, newspapers)

9) Financial model: 1. We are part of a network of organizations that offer mediation registered before the Ministry of Justice for referral of cases financed by the state. The hourly Mediator's rate is up to $24 and the for profit rate is $100 an hour. All mediation processes must be cancelled by the parties, therefore it always has to be cancelled.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 80

          • Financing: - In 2004 the initiative was launched without any financing. Today, the initiative finances 80% and month by month it is increasing its self sustainability. We forecast that by 2007 we will have government support to finance family mediation processes. We also plan to train new neighbour’s mediators. With all this we estimate that in the firs semester we will achieve %100 of self sustainability and in the second semester we will generate revenues for la Fundación Rodelillo.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: - Family Mediation: we have seen around 100 families (at least 200 people, sin at least two parties are involved) who have decided to build solutions through dialogue in relationship conflicts. - Scholl Mediation: we have trained 15 teachers and 30 students to train mediators who will deal with conflict among peers, devolving the power to those who ARE directly involved. Three primary schools from the Santiago community have been benefited - We have also trained 20 school facilitators who generate programmes inside the schools. - - Community Mediation: in the settlement of new neighbourhoods and in the neighbour organization where the codes of conducts are essential. - Internships for university graduates.

          • Number of clients in past year: Adding all the different programs around 180 people have been directly benefited.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: Training and transference of knowledge and experiences in school communities that generate resources for education and promotion of a culture of peace, rescuing basic and universal values and human rights. - Family Mediation Services available to people as a constructive and collaborative tool for preserving relationships. - Development of neighbourhood and territorial initiatives to improve the coexistence and to ease interpersonal relationships. - Mediation for working group

12) Origin of the initiative: The generation of a culture of peace and dialogue has been a transversal value from the beginning of the organization. In 2004, at the same time that the civil matrimony Law was created, new processes of mediation became official. These were the valid alternative for legal solution for the justice system. After these universities starting specializing on the subject. Then one of the voluntary organizations decided to launch the Mediation Centre. After that a psychologist and a social worker accepted the challenge of bringing to life this space, that has generated hundreds of pacific resolutions to painful conflicts, through dialogue and the facilitation of the mediators.

Contact Information:
Macarena  Currín
Ashoka Fellow
Directora Ejecutiva
Fundacion Rodelillo
(Fundación sin fines de lucro)
Concha y Toro N° 11 Santiago Centro - Santiago CHILE
Chile
Tel: (562) 671 9790
Fax: (562) 672 8452
Email: macarenac@rodelillo.cl
Website: www.rodelillo.cl