We are happy to continue long-standing cooperation with the Council of Europe Youth Department – European Youth Centre Strasbourg will be the venue of Roots “Give Peace a Chance” Study Session that will bring together 35 young people from all over Europe on October 15 – 21, 2023.
The Background
Today’s European geopolitical landscape is the most hostile it has been in decades resulting in consequential escalations like the full-scale war in Ukraine; the increasing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; the recurrent hostilities between Kosovo and Serbia; or even the growth of the alarming trend of far-right ideologies gaining ground in different states of Europe. These examples of intensifying situations are all signals that the continent is in drastic need of more and enhanced peacebuilding and conflict transformation initiatives, particularly those targeting young people.
The youth, especially those coming from conflict-affected and underprivileged backgrounds, are particularly vulnerable to belligerent rhetoric and widespread propaganda of hate and division. Disillusion and lack of opportunities make them easy targets for being attracted to various radical ideologies that promote hatred and intolerance.
Thus, there is an urgent need to tackle this trend with initiatives that promote the values of peace, coexistence, and mutual understanding for young people at all (interpersonal, inter-community, inter-society, and international) levels in Europe. Their voice and active involvement are crucial to reverse the rapidly growing radicalization processes on the continent that, as mentioned, has already resulted in major conflicts, and continues to carry a threat of further deterioration.
The YMCA has historically assumed the role of working in and with conflicts as central to its service delivery. In commitment to these historical roots and legacy, YMCA Europe has initiated and implemented multiple one-go projects and long-term programs in the conflict transformation field.
This study session activity will serve as the platform for sharing our experiences accumulated over these years with participating individuals, which will in turn multiply the acquired knowledge and skills in their organizations and communities.
The Aim
The aim of the activity is to enhance the capacity of young people to act as advocates and multipliers of peace and reconciliation in their respective communities, through sharing the experience and know-how of YMCA Europe in conflict transformation work.
Anticipated Outputs
Utilizing the various tools, frameworks, and perspectives gained through the sessions participants will be encouraged to design and elaborate peace activism ideas that they can implement in the future as a follow-up activity to this study session. The ideas can be both local and cross-border initiatives. The most relevant and feasible ideas will receive institutional and/or financial support from YMCA Europe.
Additionally, through the use of team-building tools and activities we hope to facilitate and foster bonds among participants that will result in the creation of an informal network of participants who will support, mentor, and inspire each other, therefore making the study session more than a one-go activity.
Program Flow
The study session is designed as a one-week-long event, including 5 full working and 2 traveling days. The daily program of the training session is composed of the following learning and group dynamic blocks:
★Opening of the Day: Each morning of the working days will start with a brief (15 to 20 minute) message led by facilitators or participants called the “Message of the Day”. This will be done for three reasons. Firstly, to set the tone of the day and give the group something to think about. Secondly, to share an issue or concern of either a global or personal challenge or opinion. Thirdly, it will help the group bond and increase solidarity with one another.
★ Morning Sessions: These sessions will be focused predominantly on hard modules, like plenary inputs and lectures. It will be a space for theory, practice, experience, debate, and showcasing tools and methods. It was thought to include these sessions during this time of day as it believed participants will have the most focus and energy to retain the information.
★Afternoon Warm-up: After lunch participants will need space to be welcomed back to the sessions and to be re-energized. Energizers and team-building activities will be utilized.
★Afternoon Sessions: These sessions will emphasize predominantly soft modules, such as interactive work, and simulation activities in group or individual modes. These sessions will complement the morning sessions allowing participants to put into practice what they have learned.
★ Closing of the day – Home-Group Tool: Each day will close with participants joining one of the 4 reflection groups which will be assigned to them before the event to ensure balanced demographics. It will help the group cohesion and facilitate the feedback loop that will help keep the session participant centric.
★Evening Program: These will be activities predominantly led by the participants themselves and aimed at building positive group dynamics. It will also include social and relaxation time.
The Team
★ Jessica Woitalla, Belgium
★ Lika Zakaryan, Armenia
★ Irina Berdzenishvili, Romania
★ Hannah Sauer, Germany
★ Revaz Shavladze, Georgia
Experts
Vardan Hambardzumyan, Armenia – founder of YMCA Europe Roots for Peace programme; YMCA Europe Executive Secretary; Trainer in Do No Harm (DNH) methodology; Extensive experience and knowledge in peace building and conflict transformation sphere; His involvement will be essential to convey the best practices and cumulative know-how of YMCA Europe in the field, especially that of Roots for Peace programme.
Methodology
The activity is designed as an experiential learning scheme that incorporates intercultural learning and team-building. The knowledge, skills, and attitudes gained by the participants at the sessions will be put into practice through homework tasks and follow-up actions/campaigns at the grassroots level.
The actual construction of the curriculum will be curated from various activities, methods, and tools from resources like the YMCA Europe ‘Peacework Guidebook’, the Council of Europe ‘Youth Transforming Conflicts’ T-kit, No Hate Speech Movement materials (especially ‘We Can!’), and the “have your say” Manual.
From the YMCA Europe ‘Peacework Guidebook’ the methodology of ‘Do No Harm’ will be employed as well as the use of hard and soft educational modules, particularly the educational modules on ‘Areas of Peace Work’, ‘Theories of Change in Peace Work’, and ‘Reflecting on Peace Practices’.
Additionally, throughout the session best practices and experiences in peacebuilding and conflict transformation from both YMCA Europe and the Council of Europe will be shared.
To support the learning experience of participants, YMCA Europe will also make sure that throughout the entire scheme each selected participant is provided with the support of an experienced and competent mentor either from the sending organization or from the planning team. The key tasks for the mentors will be to assist the participants during the entire process of planning and implementation of follow-up projects and initiatives, as well as support them in finding sustainable applications of their peace-practitioner capacities in the YMCA network and beyond.
Follow-up
Peace and Justice are key priorities within the YMCA Europe Strategy. The “Roots for Peace” project is the main form of actualizing them and this study session is initiated with its framework. This means that this study session is not offered as only a one-go learning experience, but as part of a wider implementation tool to spread peace and conflict transformation tools across the continent. It is our hope participants connect with their sending partner organization to implement what they learned in their communities joining the wider network initiatives and increasing the multiplying effect of the activity and the Roots.
Participants
Along with general eligibility requirements like age (18-30), language skills (English), etc., the participants will be expected to demonstrate evidence-based motivation and commitment to peace-building and conflict transformation work during and beyond the study session along with becoming the multipliers of knowledge and skills obtained. They can represent both YMCA as well as non-YMCA backgrounds. Based on the nature of the initiative – being opinion leaders and pragmatic actors for peace, mature, open-minded, responsible, and collaborative are the features that each applicant should display. Participants of diverse ethnic and religious contexts, as well as sexual and gender orientations, will be included.
Logistical Arrangements
Place: European Youth Centre Strasbourg
Date: Arrival on October 15th, 2023 / Departure on October 21st, 2023
Places available: 35
All costs related with travel, visa, accommodation and materials are covered.
The study session has an enrolment fee set at EUR. 50. The fee is deducted from the refund of travel expenses. All persons attending the study session must complete a travel reimbursement form even when there are no travel expenses and pay the enrollment fee due to the Youth Department of the Council of Europe before the end of the meeting.
Apply
You can apply following this link.
Deadline for applications: May 31st, 2023
