Restorative Justice Certificate Program: Community Harvest

CIRCULA, Guatemala

At the beginning of this year, Circula launched its Restorative Justice Certificate Program, a training process designed to strengthen the skills needed to address different forms of violence and help rebuild the social fabric. A total of 26 participants—mostly women from Guatemala and El Salvador—took part in this experience, which blended theory, hands-on practice, and community reflection.

The program included certification in restorative practices; analysis of context and historical memory; the application of restorative justice in cases of violent crime; popular education approaches; and the use of dialogue circles as a central tool for transformation.

After six months of learning, Circula hosted the Community Harvest, a gathering attended by more than 50 people to showcase the group’s final initiatives.

Proposals included: dialogue circles with returned migrants; efforts within government institutions to strengthen anti-corruption work; projects to recover feminist histories; a podcast to amplify neighborhood voices; restorative tools to improve school coexistence; and a more human-centered approach to forensic psychology in El Salvador.

The event became a space for learning, listening, and collective celebration—reaffirming that Restorative Justice is a powerful path to healing, transformation, and stronger communities.