Guided by the motto that young people are the cornerstone of the present and the future, the Community Social Peacebuilding training brought together 25 young leaders from Vienna, with diverse intercultural backgrounds and disciplines, from 9 to 14 April 2022. This six-day capacity-building training helped young people become active changemakers and multipliers in their communities. It was part of the local pilot project ENGAGEMENT 2.0: Building a Sense of Initiative and Intervention.
What participants learned
Participants learned new skills, methods and tools for community social peacebuilding, how to engage in civil society, and how the framework of visible and invisible violence can guide them towards viable solutions. They also learned to analyse social issues in their communities and to plan projects for local change.
The training opened with participants defining and discussing concepts such as conflict, violence, peace and solidarity, followed by theoretical input on visible and invisible violence. As the days went on, conversations turned to culture, conflict definitions and analysis models, and educational games let participants experience communication as a core conflict transformation tool.
From ideas to initiatives
In the last days, participants chose a local issue, formed small groups and planned their own projects, including how to apply for funding through a Solidarity Project. With continued support from the EMOTiC team, four follow-up initiatives followed in the months after the training, all still running when this report was written:
- A mental health talk
- A civic education workshop
- An awareness-raising vlog about migrants' issues
- A community garden
Over six intense days, participants also bonded strongly. Openness, respect for others' views and the diversity of cultures, languages, genders and backgrounds made the training even richer.
"As this was the first training that I have ever attended, I was quite nervous at the beginning. Now, at the end, I am very glad to have been part of such an amazing experience. I have gained new knowledge and skills in conflict transformation and met interesting new people."George Mintas
