About The Project
What is Tikkun Olam?
Tikkun Olam is an ancient Hebrew phrase meaning “healing the world.” The idea of Tikkun Olam suggests that humanity has the shared responsibility to heal and transform the world. Inspired by this idea, the Tikkun Project is a research-action project exploring how young people living in several communities in Canada, South Africa, and Kosovo are actively contributing to social healing and change.
How are we doing the research?
The Tikkun Project uses a unique research approach called Participatory Action Research. In this approach, young people participate in the research under the guidance of University-based research experts. But it doesn’t stop there! Insights from research are then used to create ‘action projects’ aimed at social healing and transformation. At each research site, five young people are being trained to conduct interviews with their peers. These interviews will be used to design action projects aimed at social healing and transformation
Project Stages
The Tikkun Project will be divided into three stages:
Stage 1 is the “laying the foundations” stage. During this stage, we will launch the partnership and recruit our youth researchers.
Stage 2 is the “training and data collection” stage. During this stage, 20-25 youth researchers (4 to five from each site) will be trained by the university researchers connected to the community organization at each site. The university researchers will train the youth researchers to conduct interviews with other youth. Throughout this process, youth researchers will connect via the project website with other youth (at the other sites) to exchange ideas. For example, participants will be asked to reflect on where and how they learn about civic engagement, when and why they are motivated to be civically active, their perspectives on community life (i.e. What communal issues are of importance and why? How are these issues being engaged?). We will also explore how civic engagement affects youth (i.e. How does civic engagement make them feel? How has civic engagement impacted their lives?). With the ongoing guidance of researchers and partners, our goal is to form a youth network for co-operation and collaboration.
Stage 3 is the “International Symposium and Next Steps” phase. During this stage youth researchers will present their research finding to each other at an International Symposium held in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This organized visit will also serve as a forum for all youth researchers to brainstorm particular action projects and next steps that they will then take back to their respective countries/communities and implement.
Tikkun Olam is an ancient Hebrew phrase meaning “healing the world.” The idea of Tikkun Olam suggests that humanity has the shared responsibility to heal and transform the world. Inspired by this idea, the Tikkun Project is a research-action project exploring how young people living in several communities in Canada, South Africa, and Kosovo are actively contributing to social healing and change.
How are we doing the research?
The Tikkun Project uses a unique research approach called Participatory Action Research. In this approach, young people participate in the research under the guidance of University-based research experts. But it doesn’t stop there! Insights from research are then used to create ‘action projects’ aimed at social healing and transformation. At each research site, five young people are being trained to conduct interviews with their peers. These interviews will be used to design action projects aimed at social healing and transformation
Project Stages
The Tikkun Project will be divided into three stages:
Stage 1 is the “laying the foundations” stage. During this stage, we will launch the partnership and recruit our youth researchers.
Stage 2 is the “training and data collection” stage. During this stage, 20-25 youth researchers (4 to five from each site) will be trained by the university researchers connected to the community organization at each site. The university researchers will train the youth researchers to conduct interviews with other youth. Throughout this process, youth researchers will connect via the project website with other youth (at the other sites) to exchange ideas. For example, participants will be asked to reflect on where and how they learn about civic engagement, when and why they are motivated to be civically active, their perspectives on community life (i.e. What communal issues are of importance and why? How are these issues being engaged?). We will also explore how civic engagement affects youth (i.e. How does civic engagement make them feel? How has civic engagement impacted their lives?). With the ongoing guidance of researchers and partners, our goal is to form a youth network for co-operation and collaboration.
Stage 3 is the “International Symposium and Next Steps” phase. During this stage youth researchers will present their research finding to each other at an International Symposium held in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This organized visit will also serve as a forum for all youth researchers to brainstorm particular action projects and next steps that they will then take back to their respective countries/communities and implement.
