Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

Dr Anita Davis-DeFoe (standing) addresses yesterday's seminar on building the competence of student council/peer counsellor bodies and guidance counsellors at the Fellowship Tabernacle in St Andrew. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

With the growing pre-valence of violence in schools, peer mediators and counsellors are believed to have a greater ability to transform students than adults, according to organisational development consultant, Dr Anita Davis-Defoe.

Peer mediators from high schools across Kingston attended a seminar yesterday, which focused on developing competence in both peer and guidance counsellors.

Davis-Defoe said during the event that, if the source of a child's concern is an adult, the child is more likely to confide in a peer.

"By equipping them (peer counsellors) so that they can recognise behaviours or attitudes in other students, they are much more likely to be more successful than guidance staff, because they are non-threatening," she said. "Peers can relate to someone on their level."

Dr Lisa-Anne Knowles, chief consultant at The Queen of Hearts Consultancy, organised the seminar held at the Fellowship Tabernacle in St Andrew. Resource manuals were devised and handed out to each teacher or guidance counsellor who accompanied the students.

Referring to the manual, Knowles asked the peer mediators, many of whom are in training, to recognise potential and purpose in fellow students.

"You have to have a vision of what you want to achieve and discover your potential, which is a choice, but you must find your purpose, your passion and drive," she said in addressing the audience. "As a facilitator, your job is to help people achieve their potential and fulfil their purpose."

She continued: "You have to change your thoughts and beliefs about who controls things around you, because there is no control in a knife or a gun; the control is with you."

Leaford Henderson, a counsellor, used cognitive behaviour to define how thoughts and beliefs could cause negative reactions and result in violence. He said, "If we allow ourselves to be governed by our feelings and thoughts, we will continue to mentally enslave ourselves."

He added: "In a society like Jamaica, where no one takes disrespect, we will continue to find ourselves in big trouble, because people have the freedom to make decisions, say what they want to say, and do what they want to do."

Toni-Ann Edwards, 13-year-old peer mediator in training from Donald's Point High School, said she believed that her peers at school identified with her and regarded her as a friend.

"I feel responsible, like I have to look after someone else," she said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com