Transformative strategies work with the energy or passion of violence, rather than opposing it or trying to eradicate it. For example, in the martial art form Aikido, people are taught to redirect the energy of the attacker to avoid harm to all parties — as opposed to other forms of self-defence that teach how to repel the energy or to counter-attack.

With a transformative approach, surprising things happen.

• The passions of gang members are redirected toward community leadership and career training.
  
• The trauma of children who have experienced torture, war and genocide can begin to heal through their artwork, writing, and relationships.
  
• Children who are angry and afraid of school bullies are invited to be creative in developing strategies for bringing bullies out of isolation and into the world of friendship and respect.
  
• Former soldiers and paramilitaries are trained to work together to solve community problems.

A ‘transformative’ approach will:

• encourage respect and openness to all points of view
  
• understand and validate the experiences, views and feelings of people on all sides of a conflict
  
• create opportunities for behavioral and attitudinal change
  
• demonstrate faith in each person’s capacity to make a contribution to the social good
  
• care for each person’s well-being regardless of their behavior or role
  
• work with the complexity of violent situations, rather than simply being opposed to violence
  
• seek to understand and address the roots of violence
  
• take a systems approach and seek to break the cycle of violence
  
• include self-reflection and self-transformation rather than just trying to change others
  
• foster informed participation
  
• embrace diversity
  
• take risks to try something creative
  
• cultivate hope
  
• stimulate dialogue
  
• build community
  
• kindle the belief that change can happen and that the actions of an individual or a group can make a difference.

Characteristics of a Transforming Approach
Some examples of new thinking
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