Pieces of Peace: Building Capacity with Youth Navigating Conflict—an international study session, tables the most pressing and sensitive topics facing youth in conflict settings, mapping, creating, and improving relevant approaches for active inclusion, social cohesion, and human rights education.
Today, young people navigate a complex conflict landscape shaped by shifting privileges and systemic inequalities. They face rising anxiety and loneliness, compounded by the growing influence of political movements, making it essential to foster resilience and empower them through collective action and inclusive dialogue.
Simultaneously, the session will look at how youth work can be a core tool to address these challenges, aiming also at improving the quality of non-formal education for, with and by youth. The activity will bring together youth workers who will contribute to developing and consolidating methodologies and youth work practices that support them and their peers in addressing discrimination, racism and exclusion by using human rights education, dialogue and other peacebuilding mechanisms for conflict transformation.
The Peace Education team, in collaboration with Action Aid and the Council of Europe, aims to facilitate mutual learning among participants to understand the role of youth work in addressing conflict, political polarisation, and societal challenges. This will empower youth workers to engage in constructive dialogue with young people affected by conflict and navigate complex issues effectively.
Aim/Objectives
In line with Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on youth work, the International study session aims to empower young people and their organisations to create resilient youth work and youth spaces and stay relevant and responsive to societal trends and changes in times of crises.
Specific objectives of the study session are:
- Facilitate mutual learning among participants to understand the role of youth work in addressing conflict, political polarisation, and societal challenges.
- Empowering youth workers to engage in constructive dialogue with young people affected by conflict and navigate complex issues effectively.
- Develop and test innovative human rights education methodologies as tools for enhancing peacebuilding efforts, fostering trust among underrepresented communities affected by conflict, and promoting common understanding.
- Empower participants to act as multipliers within their communities, actively promoting peacebuilding initiatives and sharing best practices in conflict resolution during the training to inspire others.
- Provide targeted support and resources to youth workers and young people from countries experiencing conflict, fostering dialogue and collaboration for durable solutions and promotion of peace globally.
Dates and Venue
This workshop, “Pieces of Peace: Building Capacity with Youth Navigating Conflict,” is an international study session organised in partnership with the Council of Europe’s Youth Department. It is scheduled to take place as a five-day event at the European Youth Centre in Budapest, Hungary, from 3 to 7 March 2025. Travel dates for selected participants are 2 March (for arrivals) and 8 March 2025 (for departures).
Participants’ Profile
The study session will host 30 participants from World Scouting (European Region) and other youth organisations active at a local level on the study session topic. To qualify as a participant, you should:
- Be 18 to 30 years old.
- Have interests in topics such as youth peace and security, dialogue, peace education, conflict resolution and non-formal education.
- Be an active youth leader in a Scout Association of the European Scout Region OR be a member of another youth organisation from a Member State of the Council of Europe.
- Be involved in the European Scout Region or your sending Youth Organisation as a youth worker, educator, trainer or facilitator, organisational decision-maker, or otherwise involved at a local, regional or national level.
- Be willing to share personal experiences and best practices and exchange with participants from different countries.
- Be able to attend the study session in person for the entire duration (5 working days).
- Be committed and able to contribute to the topic upon returning home, disseminating acquired knowledge, skills and learning insights with your peers and relevant stakeholders of your organisation.
Participants should also demonstrate an openness to engaging in difficult conversations, recognising the value of diverse perspectives. They are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where learning is shared, and constructive dialogue is encouraged. Acknowledging the presence of participants from geographically, politically or religiously opposing backgrounds, approaching all interactions with respect and empathy.
We invite all interested individuals to apply, with particular encouragement for applicants from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Moldova, Serbia, Spain, Turkiye, and Ukraine. Preference will be given to candidates from these countries to enhance the lived experiences and relevance to the study session’s topics and outcomes.
Language
The working language is English to facilitate all exchanges among participants. Effective communication in that language is essential to participation.
Participation Fee
The Council of Europe covers travel and accommodation costs for this study session. The Participation Fee of EUR 50 per participant should be paid to the European Scout Region.
Registration
Anyone meeting the above criteria and a member of a Member Organization in the European Scout Region or another youth organisation can signal interest by 14 December 2024, 23:59 CET, completing this form.
To proceed with your registration/application, you need an endorsement letter from the International Commissioner / sending Youth Organisation.
Candidates selected for participation will be informed in December 2024.
Visa and Travel Arrangements
Candidates selected for participation will receive information regarding travel arrangements for the International Study Session 2025. Please indicate in the event’s online registration form if you need a visa to travel to and enter Hungary.
Insurance
The European Scout Region of WOSM does not cover participants' risks during the event or travel to or from the venue. Please note that it is the exclusive responsibility of the participant’s national association to check and ensure that the participant's risks are covered by insurance (illness, accidents, repatriation, etc.).
More Information and Contact
If you have any questions or require further information about the event, please contact Sian Bagshaw ([email protected]) at the World Scout Bureau Europe Support Centre.