Call for participants — Dialogue Training

Training course “What does it mean to be European?” — Fostering Dialogue as a Tool for Peace and Democratic Citizenship

We are looking for 25 participants from Poland, Spain, Greece, Germany, Serbia, Türkiye and Cyprus.

⛰️ Venue: Munich, Germany; Dates: Arrival on October 20th and departure on 27th October

⏳Deadline for application: June 20th 2024

LET US TELL YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT

Why does this project take place? 

Aside from the challenges we're facing today - migration, climate change, conflict - Europe is also struggling with growing polarisation, social divisions, and rising extremist ideologies and violence. What does it even mean to be part of Europe in today's world ? It can be overwhelming. Especially when talking about these topics becomes another challenge. If you feel that you don't know how to navigate difficult conversations and that you lack the tools and knowledge to promote positive peace and democratic citizenship - this is for you.

AIM - We aim to empower youth workers, activists and changemakers to take an active role in their communities and to promote civic engagement and dialogue among diverse groups by building their capacity and equipping them with tools to engage in difficult conversations that foster understanding, connection and open discussions needed for a diverse Europe, positive peace and democratic citizenship.

OBJECTIVES

What you will take away from this:

• Practical skills in perspective taking, dialogue, empathy and social psychology with a focus on group dynamics;
• Space to explore individual, group and European identity in order to understand, connect and find common ground;
• A deepening of your self-reflective skills in interaction and dialogue with others on current issues;
• Opportunities to practise the new skills by engaging in discussions on challenging issues related to the intersection of European identity;
• Knowledge and understanding of the concept of Europe, human rights, positive peace and their connection to democracy;

We will also plan together follow-up actions to apply your newly acquired knowledge, skills and competences and to promote dialogue processes at grassroots level.

PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS 

This training is for you if you want to improve your dialogue skills and are youth or working with youth as:

• Trainer and Educator
• Youth Field Professional
• Activist or youth worker with a multiplying role in your organisation.

Also, you are …

• living in one of these countries: Poland, Spain, Greece, Germany, Serbia, Turkey and Cyprus (you don’t need to hold passport of those countries, you need to live and travel from there)
• 18–35 year old (if you are a youth worker — apply no matter of your age range)
• able to communicate in English (this the language of the trainings)

HOW WE WORK - The training courses will be based on the principles of non-formal education. We will implement the basic elements of the non-formal education, such as the education being voluntary, organised with educational objectives, participatory and learner-centred, about learning life skills and preparing for active citizenship, based on involving both individual and group learning with a collective approach, holistic and process-oriented, as well as based on experience and action (we will plan the follow-up activities) and starts from the needs of the participants. We will use working methods, such as working in small groups, role plays, buzz groups, energisers, presentations and more of participatory activities. Basically is a peer-to-peer (you teach & learn from others) approach :)

COSTS - We believe in one thing, the power of peace education and the right for all to have an opportunity. That is why, thanks to the ERASMUS+ scheme, we are able to provide this training for you for FREE.

We will be able to reimburse you for your travel to Munich with a limit of:

Germany, Poland - 320 euros (green travel required) ; Spain, Serbia, Greece - 275 euros; Cyprus, Turkiye - 360 euros.

If you choose green travel (train, carpooling etc.), we will try to support you with a higher reimbursement. Just know that all reimbursements are done after the training and once you submit all your travel tickets.

WHO WE ARE - give & grow - give & grow is a social start-up from Germany and one of the first online platforms dedicated to travel education. The organisation focuses on intercultural learning and uses youth exchange and sustainable tourism as powerful tools to promote peace and understanding among young people.

YPAN - The Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (ypa.network) wants to develop a culture of peace by empowering young people, and promoting human rights, dignity, equality, and respect for diversity through education, advocacy, and other non-violent actions through projects at the local and international levels. We are a network of over 130 young peacebuilders and activists who want to develop a culture of peace.

This project is financed by Erasmus+ with the number 2023-3-DE04-KA153-YOU-000175283. Learn more about Erasmus+ here