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Navigating Conflict for Resilient Activist Communities

2025-1-FR02-KA153-YOU-0003053072025Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: FR|TR|PL|PT|FI|NL|IT · Grant: €59,676
Physical and mental health, well-beingPrevention of conflicts, post-conflict rehabilitationDemocracy and inclusive democratic participation

Objectives

We are witnessing an increasing number of crises - migration, climate change, and social inequality - that demand urgent attention. Young people are gathering in groups and networks more than ever to address these pressing issues, often at the forefront of well-known activist movements. They play a crucial role in driving solutions, however inner conflicts and the pressure of the struggles they are fighting often result in burnouts, unsafe environments and emotional distress. We want to support and empower the youth workers who work with and within activist movements - as mentors, leaders and facilitators - with powerful tools to navigate conflict, address group dynamics and create more sustainable, caring and healthy communities. For years, our team and partners have been working closely with young activists and youth workers, facilitating conflicts and supporting them to overcome communication and emotional challenges. Through our personal connections with forest occupations, queer communities, youth advocacy campaigns and many activist networks, we observed and discussed the difficult and sometimes harmful situations that they are facing. This project aligns with our ongoing commitment to providing practical, transformative tools that help activist communities develop a culture of conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and mental health awareness. Designed with a focus on marginalized groups, queer communities, and activists with limited financial resources, the project will equip youth workers with the skills necessary to sustain their movements and create healthier, more resilient activist spaces. We developed this project based on the shared need for conflict transformation tools across many young activist communities and their wish for tools to create emotional resilience, authentic communication, and inclusive group dynamics. After successfully running a short event combining Radical Honesty and Processwork, we want to bring together those methods that can empower individuals to address underlying issues openly, navigate interpersonal conflicts and embrace diversity in perspectives. Our objectives are the following: * To empower youth workers with innovative conflict resolution tools adapted to their work contexts We target youth workers involved in youth-led activist communities often facing difficult situations through their actions and daily life. Precarious situations set up the perfect context for intense and often damaging conflicts. With Radical Honesty and Process Work, the youth workers will learn communication skills and facilitation techniques to help them create trust, transparency and navigate conflict in healthier ways. * To enhance the youth workers’ awareness about resilience and mental health and gain tools to nurture these in activist spheres Most of the youth workers we target deal with challenges around mental health and emotional distress themselves, besides the young people they work with. Activist communities often welcome people with very diverse backgrounds, and sometimes act as a refuge for marginalized and traumatized youth. In this project, we aim to enhance the resilience of the youth workers by learning to apply practical self-care strategies and mental health tools to manage stress and prevent burnout. These skills help them maintain long-term engagement in activism while also supporting the well-being of the young people they work with. * To share these tools and practices in activist communities and youth work organisations involved in social and environmental activism While youth workers will be our direct target group, the final beneficiaries will be the youth work organisations and young people in activist communities they work with. We put great emphasis on the integration of the conflict resolution tools in the youth workers local contexts to support real, on-the ground conflicts and internal issues. * To establish a European network of youth workers and facilitators and youth work organisations involved in social and environmental activism to deepen and exchange on embodied conflict mediation and emotional awareness practices From a youth work perspective, this project serves as a transformative initiative that strengthens both youth workers and the communities they support. By equipping them with essential conflict resolution and emotional resilience tools, and mental health awareness, we aim to create lasting change within activist spaces. The impact of this work extends beyond individual participants; by nurturing healthier group dynamics and more resilient activism, we contribute to a broader shift toward a more inclusive, compassionate, caring, and resilient society. Through this project, youth workers and young activists will not only enhance their ability to navigate complex challenges but will also become key drivers of change, inspiring future generations to engage in meaningful, effective, and sustainable social actions.

Project partners (7)