Implementing Community Peace and Safety Networks in South Africa

Peace education initiatives often import American models and techniques without careful consideration of their fit with existing sociohistorical contexts, indigenous cultures, and necessary links to community. This article describes a 2-year project that instituted school- and community-based mediation programs as Community Peace and Safety Networks in the Gauteng region of South Africa. Qualitative research processes were used to conduct needs assessments and develop cultural sensitivity that increased the success of the project. The potential role of formative and summative evaluation research to enhance respect for context, culture and community are discussed in relation to peace education efforts.