The project aims to equip youth workers with conflict transformation tools and sustainability competencies to address complex local and global challenges. Through an intercultural, practice-oriented training, participants will learn to design and implement initiatives that promote sustainable development, civic engagement, and community resilience.

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The project took place in Vienna, Austria, from 9 to 16 November and involved 30 youth workers from Latvia 🇱🇻,   Austria🇦🇹 , Croatia 🇭🇷, Czechia 🇨🇿, Greece 🇬🇷, Hungary 🇭🇺, Romania 🇷🇴, Serbia 🇷🇸, Slovakia 🇸🇰, and France 🇫🇷.

In a world grappling with multifaceted conflicts like climate change, poverty, and inequality, the concept of sustainable development has become paramount. However, sustainable development has been hindered by the adverse outcomes of rising conflicts which emerge as natural phenomena across various levels -interpersonal, within communities, or between cultural groups. Such adverse outcomes have environmental, social, economic, and global dimensions on sustainable development. They include damaged relationships, heightened violence, and deepened exclusion which leads to acts that affect sustainability such as overfishing, unequal distribution of resources, and causing harm to ecosystems such as biodiversity. This reality is exacerbated by global dynamics, including cultural diversifications and the aftereffects of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, which have intensified stress, tensions, and social injustices. A striking manifestation of such social dilemmas is the increased risk of deprivation and social exclusion among Europe's youth, with up to 45% in some regions facing barriers to personal fulfilment and active societal participation. This scenario underlines the critical need for effective conflict transformation strategies to mitigate the impacts on vulnerable populations, particularly the youth, and foster sustainable development. To achieve lasting progress, it is imperative to engage communities in shaping and executing initiatives that drive sustainable development. To do so, we need community-driven initiatives and these are best realised through the Conflict Transformation Approach because it informs strategic programming of initiatives that can foster comprehensive sustainable development. 

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The core activity of this initiative is a specialized training course designed for 30 participants, aimed at fostering a transformative learning environment where they can explore the essentials of sustainable development. This includes understanding foundational concepts of conflict transformation and sustainability, with a particular focus on equipping youth workers with actionable strategies that address local challenges and promote sustainable practices. This journey takes place within an intercultural setting that encourages shared learning and perspective-building.

 

Participants will engage with key theories, tools, and methodologies, including design thinking and conflict analysis, to develop practical initiatives that address sustainable development in youth work. Through hands-on, small-group collaborations, they will devise strategies and activities that bring these concepts to life, ultimately creating resources that inspire sustainable actions within their communities.

 

The course culminates in an opportunity for participants to present their initiatives, allowing for constructive feedback and practical evaluation. This process fosters a collective reflection on sustainable development in youth work and paves the way for actionable follow-up plans, tailored for local implementation, to deepen community impact and inspire future sustainability initiatives.

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Project activity schedule:

Day 1 - our journey began with an introduction to conflict transformation and sustainable development, laying the groundwork for the week ahead. Participants shared their country realities, highlighting diverse perspectives and experiences. We explored the Youthpass competencies and ended the day with reflections and insights, building a sense of unity and purpose.

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Day 2 was all about understanding conflict analysis and sustainable development. We delved into practical tools for conflict assessment, sparking insightful discussions among participants. Reflective sessions allowed everyone to connect the day’s learnings to real-world issues.

 

Day 3 - participants explored theories of conflict transformation and practiced mediation skills, empowering participants with tools to resolve conflicts. Advanced strategies led to vibrant discussions on how these techniques apply in their communities. Participants work in groups to test reflective practices in conflict transformation.

 

Day 4 - diving deep into sustainable development goals, participants brainstormed ways to make a meaningful impact. Design thinking workshops encouraged creative solutions to pressing global challenges.

 

Day 5 - participants put their ideas into action by planning sustainable development projects. We focused on sustainability in practice, exploring real-life initiatives to inspire future projects. Holistic initiatives workshops emphasised the importance of a well-rounded approach to sustainability.

 

Day 6 was a time for reflection and goal-setting, helping participants identify personal and professional aspirations. We celebrated the journey, achievements, and the meaningful connections made. With newfound knowledge and confidence, participants are ready to take on new challenges in their communities.