Training Course: Conflict Resolution through Dialogue

The project’s main activity is a Training Course for youth workers, which will take place in Armenia. During the training course youth workers will share between and learn from each other their knowledge and skills in using various communication tools and develop their creativity to come up with new ones for an effective and meaningful outreach to young people they work with. The objectives that we hope will help us achieving the project’s aim are: • Equip participants with interpersonal communication and negotiation skills • Explore tools, approaches and attitudes for effective conflict intervention and resolving seemingly intractable disputes on all levels (personal, organizational, community and country level) • Develop and promote intercultural competences and diversity management skills for youth work in multi-cultural environments with high conflict risks. Encourage participants to see diversity as an opportunity for value creation and cooperation. • Promote active citizenship and non-violent actions towards peace and democracy. • Promote the non formal education approach as a powerful method for dealing with conflicts • Promote EU programs and opportunities for youth There will be 3 main sets of activities within the project conducted using non-formal methods of education: – Firstly, in preparation of the training course, there will be an inventorying activity of the most discussed conflicts in Europe (as proposed by project partners). In this stage partners will assist project participants in putting together a “basket of conflicts in Europe”, from which the youth workers will choose those they want to resolve at during specific workshops at the project. – Secondly, during the training days, workshops will be organized aimed at learning to use the tools used in the project. Participants will have the possibility to select a number of conflicts and in advance provided tools of conflict resolution to improve their ability to use them, and create their first outputs. – Thirdly, after the training, on their return home, participants will continue to improve their skills using the newly acquired tools, by producing at least one material on the topic they work with using any/each of the preferred tools that they will include in an awareness raising/education campaign. The preparation for this will start during the last days of the training course. After the campaign they will make an assessment of receptivity and understanding of this message by young people. In our activities, two very important principles are the participants’ need based approach and the use of non-formal and informal education tools. During the training course participants will go through a flow of activities addressing both their skills and their personal development. As a result of the project, we expect that: 1. participating youth workers will be able to resolve the conflict situation in the workplace and with the young people they are working with in a more attractive and time-efficient manner. 2. by following this approach the organization atmosphere will be more attractive and the outreach of organizations among young people (but not only) in the local and national communities will increase and the awareness of these communities will increase in relation to the issues that these organizations work on. 3. some of the young people our participants work with will be interested to learn to use such tools, too. Thus, project participants will have the chance to share their skills and know-how at local levels, multiplying the outcomes of the training course. Participants’ Profile: In order to be selected, applicants will have to meet the following criteria: Have experience as a volunteer/youth-worker/educator/coordinator of an NGO, working with young people, or having being involved into a social initiative or any youth movement. Have basic knowledge into the fields of conflict transformation/resolution at regional or international level. Interested into using the project’s outcomes, to raise awareness of their local societies Sufficient knowledge of English language, in order to be able to follow the training course & to contribute to the multiplying effects, of this project. Able to contribute with active participation, throughout the project. Pool of Trainers: Karen Pong Vasilis Tsillas