Youth Building Peace : Empowering the Caucasus

The project Youth Building Peace: Empowering the Caucasus: is a global 2 year project which aims to empower the region´s youth constituency by strengthening capacities of young people in the field of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and intercultural dialogue - using training and networking as principal tools. This will be done through a long-term 10 phase project, where a thorough needs and SWOT analysis done by youth organisations themselves, will be the basis of the training, education and networking envisioned in this project. The specific objectives of the global project are: • Raise a better understanding and public awareness of mainstream civil society and grassroots communities about peace and conflict • Promote dialogue and understanding among youth in the region (especially those in divided communities) • Build upon the skills of youth to participate in solving problems, e.g. negotiation, mediation, dialogue and non-confrontational advocacy with civil society organisations, professional groups and community leaders. • Build confidence, trust and re-establish relationships between communities or groups who have been in conflict by bringing them together and promoting dialogue on areas of common interest. • Build a strong network of trainers and multipliers who can carry out a long-term impact in the community through training and non-formal education in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation Seminar (06-13 October 2012, Barcelona) The seminar will focus on the role of training and capacity building in fostering a better and peaceful Caucasus region. It will look closely into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to training and capacity building in the region, and how organisations in both the EU and Caucasus can give concrete support to strengthening the development and consolidation of inclusive, participatory and pluralistic democracies in the region. The seminar will bring together 24 youth workers and youth leaders in Barcelona. Its results will will serve as a basis for the direction of the 2-year global project, and more specifically, in the preparation of a training of trainers to be held in June 2013, and planning for the other activities. PARTNER COUNTRIES: The Netherlands (UNOY Peacebuilders - www.unoy.org) Germany ( European Intercultural Forum - EIF) Azerbaijan (ATYA) Armenia (World Independent Youth Union) Georgia (Academy for Peace and Development) Spain (Fundació Catalunya Voluntària) Turkey (United Nations Association - Youth Section)