Hope Is Something You Do

"Hope Is Something You Do" is a workshop that teaches middle school youth how to become peacemakers. It is presented by us, by the House of Peace Teen Leaders. We practice once a month to get ready for the two workshops we present each year. We teach peacemaking through skits, activities, role plays and stories. And this is such important work. If more children learned to be natural peacemakers, then they would grow up knowing the skills, and eventually, we would have a country full of peacemakers.

"Hope Is Something You Do" has really changed me because I think twice before reacting in a conflict. This program helps inner city youth promote peace and it brings them together in a good environment. We work as a team every month, and our goal is to spread our message to other youth and to improve Milwaukee's reputation as a peaceful place.

Before I was part of the House of Peace, I didn't exactly know how to effectively solve problems. Presenting "Hope Is Something You Do" has given me the proper tools to solve issues peacefully. That in itself has changed my life for the better.

"Hope is Something You Do" has helped me feel more confident about bringing peace to the world. I know I can help others solve conflicts without fighting. I now am more open to hearing different views on different conflicts around the world.

"Hope Is" teaches that there are no conflicts that can't be solved with talking and listening. Here's an example. Over the summer, I work with children at my job. One time, two kids were arguing and I had to stop it. They were in the swimming pool and one was splashing the other one too much. The other one didn't want to play anymore. I had them sit down and talk to each other. They were only seven or eight years old. I had the first one talk and the second one had to wait until the first one finished talking. Then the second one could say how he felt and what he wanted to do.

I had to coach them. They worked it out. "OK, I was splashing too much." "OK, I understand that." They apologized. Kids are kids. They'll forget a fight in a day if they apologize and become friends again. But if they hadn't solved their problems, they would have had animosity for the rest of the summer program.