Peace Labs for Uniting Communities

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Amaç

Across Europe, communities are increasingly affected by social and political polarisation. Political divides, disinformation, identity conflicts, and the ongoing wars have created mistrust and ideological fragmentation that are especially visible among young people. Many young people lack the safe spaces and skills to discuss complex topics, challenge radical messages, or engage respectfully with peers holding different views. Youth workers, who are key actors in supporting young people’s participation and wellbeing, often feel unprepared to facilitate these sensitive conversations. The partner organisations observe that youth workers need practical, non-formal education tools to help young people reflect, communicate, and build trust in divided communities. Our findings demonstrate the urgent need for youth workers to help young people navigate social divisions and prevent radicalisation.

In response, the project “Peace Labs for Uniting Communities” was developed by youth organisations from Poland, Lithuania, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Greece. The project aims to equip youth workers and educators with practical non-formal education methods to create safe spaces where young people can discuss difficult topics, listen to different perspectives, and find common ground. The project is motivated by the shared experience of our organisations working directly with young people who face mistrust, conflict, and social fragmentation in their communities. By empowering youth workers as agents of dialogue, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution, we seek to strengthen young people’s trust in democratic processes and reinforce the role of youth work in promoting social cohesion.

The main goal of the project is to enhance the professional competences of youth workers and the capacity of youth organisations to address polarisation and foster inclusive dialogue. To achieve this, we plan to create an open, collaborative, and practical learning environment for participants, pursuing the following objectives:
1. Develop the competences of 30 youth workers in dialogue facilitation, enabling them to confidently design, lead, and evaluate inclusive dialogue processes in their communities.
2. Support the professional growth of 12 youth workers from disadvantaged communities, equipping them with specialised tools to engage young people with fewer opportunities effectively.
3. Organise 6 local Peace Labs (one in each country), involving at least 15 young people per lab, where youth workers will apply the newly learned methods in real-life settings and contribute to depolarisation and prevention of radicalisation.
4. Develop a digital Peace Labs Toolkit based on tested methods, practical exercises, case studies, and reflection templates, and disseminate it to at least 200 youth practitioners across Europe.
5. Strengthen the capacity of partner organisations to embed inclusive dialogue practices in their daily youth work, focusing on young people with fewer opportunities.
6. Build a sustainable European network of youth organisations working on dialogue and depolarisation, and design at least two concrete follow-up cooperation initiatives under Erasmus+ or other EU programmes.

The project will directly benefit 30 youth workers by equipping them with practical skills in facilitating dialogue, restorative circles, nonviolent communication, and deliberative discussions. Through practical exercises, group reflection, and testing methods in local Peace Labs, participants will develop competences that they can use with young people in their communities. Beyond the direct participants, the project will reach at least 200 youth practitioners through the dissemination of the Peace Labs Toolkit, who will then apply these methods with hundreds more young people. The project contributes to developing youth work in Europe by providing replicable, evidence-based methods for dialogue facilitation and depolarisation, building professional competences of youth workers, promoting best practices among youth organisations, and sharing tested tools and experiences widely across Europe. Through collaborative learning, practical application, and the creation of a quality toolkit, the project ensures long-term sustainability and strengthens the role of youth workers as agents of social cohesion and active citizenship.

The objectives of the project are in line with the priorities of Erasmus+ and European youth work, including promoting social inclusion, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, and the professional development of youth workers. By equipping youth workers with tested methodologies and providing young people with safe spaces for dialogue, the project strengthens both the local youth work infrastructure and the broader European community of practice dedicated to social cohesion and democratic participation.

Uygulama

The core project activity will be a 6-day international training course “Peace Labs for Uniting Communities” for 30 youth workers from Poland, Lithuania, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Each partner organisation will nominate 5 participants, ensuring balanced representation of countries, gender, and experience levels. Participants will be aged 18+ and have relevant experience in non-formal education, dialogue facilitation, conflict resolution, and youth empowerment, particularly with marginalised or socially divided groups. Special attention will be given to participants with fewer opportunities, including those from rural areas, minority communities, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

During the training, participants will engage in interactive workshops, simulations, role-plays, and creative facilitation exercises, including guided group circles, storytelling, visual methods, deliberative dialogue, and nonviolent communication techniques. These activities will be reinforced through structured reflection sessions, peer coaching, intercultural learning, and team-building exercises, allowing participants to share experiences from different national and cultural contexts. This approach ensures that participants not only develop facilitation, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills, but also learn to adapt methods to the needs of diverse groups and local realities. Competence development will be systematically documented through Youthpass, self-assessment exercises, and team reflections, providing a clear framework for personal and professional growth.

Participants will actively co-lead sessions and practical exercises, facilitating peer learning under the guidance of expert trainers experienced in peace education, dialogue facilitation, and participatory youth work. Daily reflection, peer feedback, and structured evaluation will reinforce learning outcomes, encourage critical thinking, and build confidence in applying newly acquired methods. The course will also provide tools and guidance for planning local Peace Labs, giving participants practical experience in designing and implementing youth-focused activities in their communities.

Following the training, participants will implement 6 local Peace Labs, one in each participating country, each engaging 15 young people. These one-day practical activities will serve as laboratories for applying dialogue facilitation, restorative circles, deliberative discussions, and conflict resolution approaches. The focus will be on inclusive communication, depolarisation, and preventing radicalisation, ensuring that young people from diverse backgrounds can participate safely and constructively.

Building on these experiences, all partners will contribute to the development of a digital Peace Labs Toolkit, coordinated by SPI. The toolkit will compile tested methods, structured activity plans, facilitation guides, case studies, reflection exercises, and practical tips for adapting workshops to different local contexts and participant profiles. It will be user-friendly and directly applicable for youth workers, educators, and municipal youth officers, enabling them to integrate dialogue-based approaches into daily practice. The toolkit is expected to reach at least 200 youth practitioners across Europe, who will then apply the methods in their own communities, multiplying the project’s impact to benefit hundreds of additional young people and strengthening inclusive, depolarising youth work at a wider European level.

Sonuçlar

Throughout the “Peace Labs for Uniting Communities” project, youth workers will acquire practical competences applicable to their everyday work with young people, particularly in contexts affected by polarisation, social division, or marginalisation. By participating in interactive training methods, including structured dialogue exercises, restorative circles, non-violent communication, simulations, role-plays, and case clinics, participants will strengthen their facilitation, mediation, and conflict-resolution skills. They will develop the capacity to guide young people in reflecting on sensitive issues, listening actively, and expressing their perspectives respectfully, fostering mutual understanding and inclusive dialogue. Planning and implementing one-day local Peace Labs in each participating country will provide youth workers with hands-on experience to test newly acquired methods in real-life contexts, engaging young people with fewer opportunities and allowing participants to consolidate skills in intercultural awareness, leadership, inclusive communication, and civic engagement.

Beyond the project lifetime, youth workers will be able to use these competences in their daily work, integrating dialogue facilitation, restorative practices, and inclusive non-formal education methods into youth activities. The practical experience gained from Peace Labs will increase confidence in independently designing and implementing similar activities, helping participants address polarisation and social division within their communities more effectively. The jointly developed Peace Lab Toolkit will serve as a long-term resource, providing step-by-step guidance, adaptable exercises, and tested methods. Moreover, the project will foster the generation of new EU project ideas, enabling youth workers to continue collaboration with partner organisations and build on the methods and knowledge acquired during the training.

Participating organisations will benefit as youth workers will apply their new competences in local Peace Labs, enhancing organisational methodologies, outreach, and engagement with marginalised or vulnerable youth. The international partnership will facilitate exchange of practices, allowing organisations to learn from peers, benchmark their approaches, and expand their visibility and credibility in the European youth work community. In the long term, trained staff will use acquired skills into daily work, leading to more inclusive and innovative youth programmes. Dissemination of the toolkit, project experiences, and practical outcomes will further enhance organisational recognition, positioning them as leaders in promoting dialogue, conflict transformation, and youth empowerment. Strengthened cross-border cooperation will improve their ability to develop and implement future Erasmus+ and EU-funded projects, contributing to organisational resilience and sustained impact.

At the local level, Peace Labs will directly engage young people in inclusive dialogue and collaborative activities, helping reduce polarisation, prevent radicalisation, and foster social cohesion in communities. Regionally, the project will encourage partnerships with youth organisations, schools, and local authorities, showcasing practical ways youth work can support democratic culture and cohesion. Nationally, the toolkit, case studies, and results will be shared with youth councils, professional networks, and ministries, promoting evidence-based approaches to inclusive youth work and influencing policy. At the European level, the project will contribute to a broader knowledge base, offering innovative tools, tested methods, and inspiring cross-border cooperation. By sharing resources through digital platforms, Erasmus+ networks, and professional communities, the project will promote sustainable improvements in youth work quality, innovation, and recognition, strengthening the role of youth work in building inclusive and democratic societies.