Restorative Circles in youth work: from storytelling to conflict management (Training course)

This international training supports trainers and professionals working with young people in facilitating dialogue in conflict situations and addressing controversial topics through Restorative Circles as a storytelling-based restorative practice. Participants will explore intercultural group work, conflict engagement and creative storytelling approaches, while gaining practical skills to apply and facilitate Restorative Circles in diverse educational, youth work and other contexts.

About the training course

Enabling dialogue in conflict situations and facilitating exchange on controversial topics are becoming increasingly important competencies for professionals working with young people. Differences of opinion are often expressed in confrontational ways or through withdrawal from dialogue, making it harder to create spaces for discussion.

This international training responds to these challenges by focusing on Restorative Circles as a storytelling-based restorative practice that enables dialogue, understanding and connection focussing on the following application fields:

• Intercultural and international group work: Using Restorative Circles to develop intercultural competencies, create shared understanding and support dialogue in culturally diverse groups.
• Dialogue on controversial topics: Facilitating safe and structured spaces to discuss sensitive or polarising issues and to stay in dialogue despite differing opinions.
• Engaging with conflicts in groups and learning environments: Applying Restorative Circles to address conflicts constructively, support responsibility and maintain communication in challenging situations.
• Storytelling and participatory media: At the heart of Restorative Circles lies the power of personal stories. Using storytelling as a core element of Restorative Circles and exploring participatory media and creative tools to prepare, accompany and deepen circle processes in trainings and workshops.

Restorative Justice is grounded in Indigenous peace building traditions and has been popularised in Western contexts since the mid-1990s, notably through Dominic Barter’s work with Restorative Circles in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Restorative Circles have been applied in a wide range of contexts, including restorative justice processes within the judicial system, community work in socially challenged neighbourhoods, and prevention of bullying in educational settings. This demonstrates the multidisciplinary and highly transferable nature of the method. The training is designed for professionals working in youth work, social work, education and non-formal learning but can be applied to various contexts.

The training takes place at the International Youth Meeting Centre (IYMC) in Krzyżowa (Kreisau), a location with a strong historical significance. The programme will include an introduction to the history of the Kreisauer Kreis (Kreisau Circle), a resistance movement during the Nazi regime that met in Krzyżowa and brought together people from different social, political and religious backgrounds. This historical context will serve as an inspiration and reflection point for the training, linking past experiences of dialogue, resistance and responsibility with contemporary challenges in conflict transformation.

By the end of the training, participants will be equipped to apply and facilitate restorative and storytelling-based practices to approach controversial topics, facilitate dialogue in conflict situations, and transfer Restorative Circles into their own training, educational and youth work contexts.
 

What the training course will offer

Participants will:

• gain practical experience in facilitating Restorative Circles and holding space for dialogue in challenging group situations
• understand how opposing opinions coexist within communities and how personal stories can support dialogue, empathy and understanding in conflict situations
• improve social–emotional learning skills such as active listening, empathy, respect and problem solving
• explore storytelling, creative methods and participatory media as supportive tools to prepare, accompany and deepen Restorative Circle processes
• reflect on the historical example of the Kreisauer Kreis and its relevance for dialogue, responsibility and community-building today
• fostering European exchange and networking: sharing experiences from different countries to develop joint approaches in polarised times
   

Who can participate?

The training is open to youth workers, educators (formal and non-formal), trainers, facilitators and professionals working with young people in educational, community or social work contexts such as intercultural and migrant settings.

It is designed for participants who are interested in conflict transformation, dialogue and restorative practices and who are motivated to apply and transfer the learning into their professional work within an international group.
 

Accommodation: Participants will be accommodated in shared rooms in the International Youth Meeting Centre Krzyzowa. 
 

How to apply

Please complete the application form by 28th February 2026.

The selection process will be based on your motivation, the relevance of your application to the course content and your professional background.

All selected participants will be notified by 6th March 2026 at the latest.
To submit your application, please fill out the registration form.
 

Contact details:

In case you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Eva Kell via email (kell@kreisau.de) or phone (+49 (0) 30 53 89 31 63 64)