Training course: TransformAction: Countering Social Conflicts in Youth Work, Markutiškės

The training course took place from 4 to 11 November 2023 at La Villa Royale in Markutiškės, near Vilnius in Lithuania, and brought together youth workers from Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania. Tavo Europa (Lithuania) coordinated the project, and EMOTiC took part as a partner and facilitator. The other partners were Culture Clash (Croatia), Asociația Kasta Morrely (Romania), Innowatorium Foundation (Poland), Long-Term Planning (Hungary), Seiklejate Vennaskond (Estonia), EYCB (Czechia) and, from Latvia, Young Folks and New East.

Why TransformAction

Young people are the cornerstone of the present and the future, yet many forms of conflict undermine their potential and even their basic participation in civic life. TransformAction started from the belief that youth organisations need to act on this and support the positive transformation of conflicts, so that young people can take a full and meaningful part in society.

What we set out to do

The course aimed to deepen understanding of the causes and dynamics of social conflicts such as exclusion, discrimination and inequality, and to give participants techniques for transforming conflicts in their communities. It encouraged critical thinking about the negative and positive roles of conflict, presented non-violent methods as tools for youth civic participation and inclusion, and supported participants to act as multipliers of social change at grassroots level.

The programme

The programme used the framework of visible and invisible violence. After building a shared understanding of concepts such as violence, conflict, peace and transformation, participants explored communication as a transformation tool, nonviolence and solidarity in action, and their own emotional and cognitive awareness of violence and nonviolence. Later in the week, participants learned conflict analysis tools and applied them to a conflict from their own context.

From analysis to local initiatives

Working in national teams of three, participants chose an issue from their local reality. Possible themes ranged from the environment, inclusion, education, human rights and gender to poverty, employment and climate change. Sessions on ideation, strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation helped each team build a complete initiative with an implementation plan. Teams then presented their problem, solution and intervention strategy for feedback.

Initiatives could take many forms, such as a short workshop in a school or university, a webinar, a digital campaign or a series of interviews, but all of them had to tackle the marginalisation and social exclusion of young people locally. The teams implemented them after the training, between November 2023 and February 2024, with support from the organising team. The follow-up was an integral part of the course.

Learning together

An intercultural night, community evenings and daily reflection time helped participants learn from each other's realities. All participants received a Youthpass certificate, which recognises competences gained through non-formal learning.