Butterfly Effect is a project based on two pillars: conflict transformation and embodiment as a method. WHY From a wide perspective, we intended to give our contribution to a change of culture towards these two aspects. We built in the direction of welcoming conflicts as a chance to grow and better organize relationships, and working with the body as a privileged means to experience learning, expression and inclusion. This wide vision came from our concrete experience: we are a group of organizations, we cooperated in several projects before this one, and had chances to exchange about our goals and challenges. Dealing with the conflicts occurring with or within our target groups is one of the main challenges we recognized: it is hard to handle them in a way that is really serving the needs and purposes of both the organizations and the people benefiting from their work. Especially, it is hard to open an authentic dialogue about it -since conflicts are often still a taboo- and consequently to find references and methods regarding “what to do and how to do it”. ISSUES AND NEEDS we identified as reasons to create the project: -The youth workers see conflicts as a problem, not an opportunity. They tend to see conflicts as something in the way of their goals instead of seeing it as a natural part of the process that can be used to enhance learning and positive change. A possible consequence is that conflict situations are taken personally as a failure, or a symptom of not being good enough, creating anxiety. -They don’t really know what to do about it. When youth workers face conflicts with or within their target group, or in their teams, they often experience a sense of loneliness and uncertainty on what to do, or in some situations, they know what to do on a very theoretical level, missing the practice and a grounded experience to support them in the moment of turmoil. As a result, in both cases they easily end up avoiding or acting out. If we are considering a position of mediation or coaching regarding conflict situations within the target, lack of competence to handle conflict often results into going straight into advising and imposing solutions, instead of promoting an autonomous process of transformation. -They know what, but not how to do it Even if they get inputs on what should be done, they struggle to apply general recipes to the concrete situation, and on how to express themselves in a way that creates connection. In this sense we often observe a disconnection between verbal and non verbal expression, with the non verbal betraying an attitude that is not in line with the declared intentions. Some of the organizations involved did have procedures they apply in case of conflicts, though some quite vague or old fashioned, and rarely a proper methodology on how to deal with them more inclusively. ABOUT EMBODIMENT Embodiment focuses on body-based processes that allow deeper self-awareness, expression and reflection beyond the words. Using embodiment in order to approach the conflict, its development, and all the beliefs and assumptions which come with it, is a powerful way towards conflict transformation. OBJECTIVES met: We offered the youth workers new perspectives and approaches on how to deal with conflicts while using body/embodiment as a tool when interacting with their target groups We equipped the youth workers with specific competences (knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors) to address conflict situations with or within their target groups We offered each youth worker the chance to develop a tailor made conflict transformation method for their youth-work and organization We spread these new methods in all partner organizations and on a bigger scale