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Developing a Culture of Peace in Youth Work

2024-3-NL02-KA153-YOU-0002693642024Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: NL|HU|ES|HR|RO|RS · Grant: €26,193
Prevention of conflicts, post-conflict rehabilitationQuality and innovation of youth workDemocracy and inclusive democratic participation

Objectives

This project enabled youth workers to foster a Culture of Peace internally, in their organisation and externally (in society). A Culture of Peace (CoP), first described by UNESCO as an antidote to a culture of violence and adopted by the UN, is defined it as: “a set of values, attitudes, traditions and modes of behaviours and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations.” (Resolution 53/243). In the training youth workers were working with the 'Peace Please' card game, developed from Dec. 2020 to Dec. 2022 by five organisations, during a KA2 project for adult education "Changing the Game Developing a Culture of Peace in Organisations". The game was originally developed for adult educators, so the aim was to adapt it to the context of youth work. The game fosters critical thinking, empathy and problem-solving skills, which can enhance youth workers capacity: considering the action cards on the table, players weight different perspectives, and practice making decisions in a group. Because the game requires discussion and negotiation among players, it enhances communication skills, including active listening, articulating thoughts clearly, and respectfully debating different viewpoints. It helps develop the ability to critically analyze situations and consider various factors before taking action. And the game challenges the players to find creative solutions, which will enhance their problem-solving skills. In addition, the game fosters teamwork and collaboration, as well as active citizenship. The game is based on several methodologies and tools, of which the most important ones are: 1. Nonviolent Communication - a methodology to reach mutual understanding and connection 2. Sociocracy - a methodology for inclusive decision-making These methodologies are useful in the youth work sector, since youth organisations also need to have effective communication skills and decision-making processes to function optimally. We believe that integrating the Peace Please game and underlying methodologies into their work, enables youth workers to equip young people with essential life skills and which are invaluable in both personal development of themselves and the youth, and the society in general. At the training course youth workers were able to learn more about the game and its underlying methodologies and concepts, after which they worked on changing some elements of the game to make it more fit for youth work. The aim of this training was to develop the youth workers’ competences to build a Culture of Peace internally (in their organisation) and externally (in society) and exchange best practices in peacebuilding. The objectives were to enable youth workers to: 1. Enhance empathy, mutual understanding, respect, conflict navigation and cooperation inside their youth groups and organisation, by using Nonviolent Communication; 2. Improve decision-making inside their youth groups and organisation, by using Sociocracy; 3. Stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving, through the game dynamics of Peace Please 4. Promote cooperation, inclusion, openness, gender awareness and sustainability in youth work 5. Exchange best practices in peacebuilding, expand and enhance the (international) network of their organisations, improving cooperation with other groups and increasing the impact.

Project partners (6)