Formaat In 2013 Formaat worked on the manual "Bridging the Divide, see http://www.formaat.org/wp-content/uploads/Formaat-Bridging-the-divide-spreads.pdf

The manual is one of the outcomes of the collaboration project with Combatants for Peace from the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel (OPTI), part of the Grassroots Peacebuilding I project (an earlier exchange). This collaboration was aimed at developing and implementing the Polarized Theatre of the Oppressed, a new theatre methodology developed by Combatants for Peace in OPTI. The manual makes it possible for us to use this methodology in the Netherlands. The described methodology provides levers for working with groups in conflict with each other, or threatening to come into conflict. The methodology's objective is to develop an insight into the opposing positions through the use of participatory theatre and thus build a bridge between polarized groups. Thetraditional Theatre of the Oppressed focuses on a single group and its relationship with itself and others. The polarized model hasmade a new methodology available to us, which we can use in the future to get two groups, through theatre, to enter into a dialoguewith each other.
This methodology distinguishes itself from other methodologies by the alternation of images, emotions and words. Adialogue (or even a debate) with only words has a limited impact. Images (literally) make the dialogue tangible and changeable. In addition to making the dialogue visible and tangible, the methodology also gives the opportunity to simultaneously work on a common goal. Participants from both sides of the conflict work together and depend on each other in the context of the methodology. Depending on the nature of the problem and the duration and quality of the process, tensions can be relieved and conflicts considerably reduced, and friendships can even emerge between members of the different groups. In theatre the conflicting parties and the public jointly work on finding solutions through play.
The project provides in a broad dialogue between community members and stakeholders.
The methodology is further worked out in depth and implemented in the Netherlands, through:
	Starting a pilot with this polarized model to create new connections between vulnerable elderly and young people in South Rotterdam and Rotterdam Delftshaven, whereby we anticipate future models. With the change in power to communities ahead of us, we offer a model that can be used in 2015 to connect and strengthen polarized communities in the Netherlands.
	An exchange between stakeholders (representatives of care, welfare and government agencies in Rotterdam) and Community of Practice (CfP) with work sessions and a visit to the occupied Palestinian territoriesand Israel.
	A train the trainers workshop in the Netherlands, which will motivate organizations to develop their own activities using the Polarized Model, and to implement them in their own institution.
	Continuation of the working group "Bridging the Divide". Working group members incorporate adaptations and applications of the Polarized model in the manual.
Strengthening of the Southernpartner organizations, through:
	The organization of a workshop by Luc Opdebeeck in OPTI in the context of CfP, focussed on internal decision-making and the role of the neutral joker.
	The provision of a platform to CfP, both in the Netherlands and internationally.