Harm repair is always an act of rebuilding… but it’s not every day our youth come to the table and produce an outcome so tangible, you could pull up a chair!
In a recent harm repair process involving multiple youth, the harmed party was supportive of each youth creating an individualized harm repair action plan.
One young person had the idea to build a table to replace one damaged in the incident, as a means to do something productive, learn new skills, and spend quality time with their parent. This youth showed initiative in creating a plan, enlisting help, and ultimately crafting a product they were proud of to give to the harmed party at their closing circle.
Through building the table and writing an apology letter, in addition to other activities, the youth demonstrated accountability through action.
Now, their parents are noticing that pride in a job well done extends to other areas, from tidying up around the house to helping neighbors clear the sidewalk. While the youth did not hold onto the table they had crafted, the experience of crafting repair is the gift that keeps on giving.