Community Peace Workers – Training for multipliers in conflict transformation

Context

In a time, where the political scene of many European Countries is characterized by an increasing polarization, the capacity to deal with conflicts in a reflected and constructive manner are of crucial importance for the future of democratic societies. Socio-political conflicts, which are at the core of many debates, often find their manifestations also on the local level, may it be the argument about a new refugee facility in the neighbourhood or tensions between different ethnic groups living in the same area.  It is also in this environment, where young people regardless of their background, can make their first steps of getting involved in conflict transformation efforts.

Equipped with the necessary competences, youth houses and other youth institutions can become a place to incubate new ideas and accompany the young people in developing and implementing peace initiatives. Since the inception of Peace and Conflict Studies as an academic discipline in the 1960s a large amount of knowledge and relevant models have been developed with a focus on their practical applicability in various conflict setting. Transmitting the most relevant of them to youth workers on the ground to improve the conflict transformation competences of their target groups is the declared aim of this proposed training course.

Objectives

 To deepen the understanding of concepts related to conflict transformation among youth workers and youth leaders

To equip youth workers and youth leaders with a modular set of tools, which can be used to raise the conflict transformation competences of their target groups and accompany them in developing their own peace initiatives

To provide a space for the transfer of the acquired knowledge and competences to the local youth work reality of the participants

To develop follow-up projects on local and international level in the field of conflict transformation

Lead Trainer

Oliver Wiechmann is working as an international consultant and project manager in the field of conflict transformation and dialogue facilitation.

Apart from coordinating projects in conflict transformation in various world regions (e.g. Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine) he regularly holds trainings in this field for international NGOs and governmental institutions.