Over the past few months, it’s been brought to my attention that most people, including my close friends and family — even myself! — don’t really know what it is that I do when I say, “Oh, I’m working with the Stoplight Approach in Uganda.” Even after a lengthy five minute explanation, most people smile and nod, as if they understand what the Stoplight Approach is — and perhaps they understand bits and pieces of it — but they don’t truly know what it is that Stoplight does, or even what I do for that matter.
I apologize for not being clear. The only person I have to blame is myself.
It’s not because everyone is dumb. It’s not because Stoplight is too complex. It’s because up until now, I’ve been answering the wrong question. Instead of answering the simple query, “What is the Stoplight Approach?” I answer the question, “What is the philosophy of the Stoplight Approach?” — a completely different question. After blabbing on for about five minutes, I might then describe in detail all the tasks I try to do, under this massive umbrella called the Stoplight Approach. Though I’m still in the process of truly defining my own role in Stoplight, along with what it is that Stoplight actually does as an organization — and more importantly, as a movement — I think I’m beginning to get a good idea of how to answer the questions, “What is the Stoplight Approach?” and, “What do you do?”
If you have been just as confused as I have been, please allow me to have a re-do in answering these questions.
What is the Stoplight Approach?
Safe schools. Safe homes. Safe communities. Resilient children. That's what the Stoplight Approach is all about.
Children around the world grow up feeling unsafe, which inhibits their optimal growth and development. The Stoplight Approach trains and mentors teachers, parents, and caretakers in self-awareness and behaviour management tools that create safe environments. By using the Stoplight Approach, children grow up feeling safe at school, at home, and in their communities, thriving at their optimal level.
Organization or a Movement?
One of the many aspects that makes the Stoplight Approach unique is that we are trying to develop movements within each place we influence, not organizations. Now at this point, you may be wondering, “Why the fuss about creating a movement? Isn’t the Stoplight Approach an organization?” My response to this query is a question of my own: “Is a church an organization or a movement?” The short answer is that it’s both. Any church is an organization, but desires to be a movement within its context, whether it be in a city or rural location. The Global Stoplight Approach is an organization helping to influence movements in various areas around the world. Uganda is just the first of many to come:
- Schools
- Homes
- Churches
- Refugee camps
- War-torn areas
- Inner city children
- First Nations/Aboriginals of North America
A movement is a naturally occurring phenomenon, just as the Church was a naturally occurring phenomenon 2,000 years ago. Of course, the universal Church is a supernatural organism within a natural world, with the Holy Spirit guiding and building it — but for all intents and purposes, each local church is an organization. Indeed, part of the New Testament attests to the fact that the Church eventually took on an organizational aspect to the Christian movement, as different roles were created to complete differing tasks and duties.
This is what Stoplight intends: to create naturally occurring movements in various places around the world, movements that take hold and change cultures for the benefit of those societies. Children that grow up feeling safe will learn to be creative and use critical thinking skills, helping to solve the problems of the future that we can’t solve today. These movements will inevitably take on an organizational structure, but the intention is that they be movements nevertheless.
Both organism and organization.
What Do I Do?
I am currently the Chief Operations Officer of Stoplight. My involvement, though it may seem complex, really only has three main components:
- I strategize and implement plans to grow Stoplight globally
- I train, support, and mentor locals in the Stoplight Approach
- I write and edit to articulate and refine new ideas that the founder of Stoplight develops
While I’m in Canada, task #2 is difficult to accomplish, though I continue as much as I can to keep in touch with locals in Uganda via the internet. This is the aspect I’m most passionate about, as it’s where I’m able to be on-field, seeing the fruit of Stoplight’s work. When I’m physically in Canada, I hope to continue in this role, just within a Canadian context.
Why Do I Do It?
The answer is simple: Because the world needs it.
Of course, the world needs Jesus first and foremost. And that’s the beauty of the Stoplight Approach: it’s not in competition with Jesus! Every aspect of the Stoplight is supported by the Bible, and every lesson we’ve created for children teaches about Jesus. I suppose there is one more answer, though:
Because it brings God’s Kingdom to earth.
The Stoplight Approach is based on how God created the brain to function: in safety, love, and value. And this is exactly how God operates: He casts out our fear with His perfect love, so we feel safe in His loving arms. What a privilege it is to be a part of something that shows God’s character in something that’s so tangible! Helping to transform communities to reflect God’s Kingdom in this way is something I am most passionate about.
Safe Schools. Safe Homes. Safe Communities. Resilient Children.
Hopefully by reading this, it brings much needed clarity to all my friends and family — and if not, I’ll just have to try again. But if there’s anything you remember from reading this, let it be that the Stoplight Approach is about creating safe schools, safe homes, safe communities, and resilient children.
For more information, check out our website: www.thestoplightapproach.org.