A Restorative Circle (RC) is a community process designed to hold space for those in conflict. It brings together the three parties in a conflict – those who acted, those directly impacted, and the wider community – within an intentional systemic context, to dialogue as equals. Participants invite each other and attend voluntarily. The dialogue process used is shared openly with all participants, and facilitated by a community member. The process ends when actions have been found that bring mutual benefit and nurture the inherent integrity of all those involved in the conflict.

Restorative Circles are facilitated in 3 stages, and are designed to identify the key factors in the conflict, reach agreements on next steps, and evaluate the results. As Circles form, they invite shared power, mutual understanding, self-responsibility and effective action within the community.

Restorative Circles are a specific restorative practice whose development began with the work of Dominic Barker in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro in the mid 1990s and continues with a growing community both in Brazil and internationally.

[Source: Dominic Barter and Restorative Circles]

On Justice In Auroville

"Conflict is not a problem that needs solving, but a phenomenon that needs understanding."
~ Dominic Barter

"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love."
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

A Participant Shares...

"Recently I attended a workshop with L'aura. It was an amazing eye-opener, because it showed the possibility of how the whole community can get involved and learn to hold conflict, and to take responsibility for one's actions, without being crucified for one's so-called 'mistakes.'"
~ Vikram, 2015