We aimed to provide participants with the opportunity to learn from each other: in the respective areas of content as well as in the methodological and organizational field. Additionally, we set the basis for future successful cooperation within a broader European network. On an individual level, people have been encouraged to take action and see their involvement in a larger, unifying context. This helps them to find strength and support for their civic engagement as well as applying concrete competencies learned from others, thus making their activism more visible and impactful. On an organizational level, the German and Austrian branch of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) developed common tools and understandings as well as concrete starting points for future cooperation. We aimed to make our peace work more inclusive, both in regard to the topics connected to it as well as to the people encouraged to participate. At the European level we wanted to lead by example, sharing our project ideas and results with our broader European network in meetings and by providing materials, thus laying the ground work for even wider exchange and inclusion.
We perceive that life on this planet is in danger: the basis for life is being destroyed and a large part of humanity is being denied equal opportunities to participate. This untenable situation requires a fundamental transformation of society, a “revolution for life”. Even though many people are already aware of this, there is on the one hand a sense of helplessness (What can we do? Is it already too late?), and on the other hand a lack of cooperation and exchange, that would be fruitful to support all efforts. The project "Learning from each other in the revolution for life – the contributions of social & political movements to the transformation of society" was designed to support people in their activism by strengthening their engagement by making them feel connected to a network of people they can teach and learn from and providing them with practical (digital) tools. Change at all levels - local to global - is necessary. The many different kinds of crises, problems and issues must be thought together at the European and global level. Since these problems are interconnected, so must be the solutions and we will have to keep learning from each other to create a sustainable future – or any future at all!