In February 2025, youth workers from across Europe gathered in Milan, Italy, to take part in the Erasmus+ training course “Equipping Youth Workers for Conflict Resolution, Mediation, and Peacebuilding.” This international project was designed to help youth workers gain essential tools for addressing conflicts constructively and promoting non-violent communication among young people. In a world where misunderstandings and tensions often grow into division, this training came at the perfect time. It focused on practical techniques for mediation, peace education, and social cohesion, offering valuable insights and methods to be used in everyday youth work.
In Romania, especially in urban and rural mixed areas, youth workers often face situations where conflicts between young people escalate quickly, both online and offline. Whether related to cultural misunderstandings, social inequality, or personal differences, these conflicts can lead to bullying, isolation, and reduced participation in community life. Before this training, many youth centers in Romania lacked structured tools to teach conflict resolution in a way that was interactive and empowering. NGOs like Se Poate were already active in youth empowerment, but there was a growing need to include peace education more strongly in daily work with young people.
The experience in Milan opened a new chapter in how one youth worker from Se Poate viewed conflict. One of the most powerful aspects of the training was understanding conflict not as a failure but as a natural part of communication that, if handled correctly, can lead to growth and connection. The course began with sessions on identifying the roots of conflict and continued with exercises on active listening, empathy, and mediation. Through role-playing, storytelling, and shared reflection, participants practiced how to guide young people in handling disagreements with respect and emotional awareness.
What stood out most during the week in Milan was the use of peace circles as a practical tool. A local NGO demonstrated how they worked with schools in Milan using circles to bring together students with different backgrounds, helping them discuss challenges and resolve issues in a respectful setting. The method involved everyone equally and created a strong sense of safety and trust. This practice was both simple and powerful, and it left a lasting impression on the youth workers present. Another meaningful moment was the multicultural exchange of ideas. Participants from different countries spoke about how youth conflicts looked in their communities. Hearing these different perspectives helped everyone realize that while the situations may change, the human emotions behind them are often the same.
Returning to Romania, the youth worker from Se Poate wanted to take immediate steps to bring the knowledge from Milan into local practice. A new initiative called “Peace Corners” was created inside youth centers, starting with a pilot in Bacău. These Peace Corners were dedicated spaces where young people could meet regularly to learn about conflict resolution, practice non-violent communication, and explore emotions. The sessions were designed to be relaxed, creative, and interactive. They included theatre games, drawing emotions, guided dialogues, and even music to help young people connect with one another. The Peace Corners were not about solving big world problems but about helping young people feel heard, respected, and able to handle disagreements with care.
After only a few months, the effects were visible. Participants reported feeling more in control of their reactions during conflicts and more open to discussing difficult topics. In one youth group, two teenagers who had previously avoided each other due to an argument were able to speak openly and rebuild their friendship through the Peace Corner sessions. Teachers and parents noticed that young people who participated in these sessions became more cooperative and thoughtful in both group and individual activities. One school even invited Se Poate to organize regular workshops on peaceful communication as part of its extracurricular program.
The Peace Corners also helped to connect different youth centers across Romania. Other NGOs became interested in the approach and asked for training on how to organize similar spaces. This network of shared practice led to the creation of a mini-guidebook on youth peacebuilding, written in simple Romanian language and filled with practical tools. The success of the initiative also strengthened Se Poate’s position in the community, showing that investing in social and emotional education can have real, lasting effects on young people’s well-being and social connections.
Beyond local impact, the training in Milan also inspired the youth worker to speak about peacebuilding at a regional youth conference. Sharing the experience of the Erasmus+ project and the Peace Corners gave other youth workers the motivation to think differently about conflict. Instead of avoiding it or punishing it, they saw how conflict could be used as a learning opportunity. It became clear that youth work can become a stronger force for positive change when peace education is not seen as something extra, but as part of daily practice.
This journey through the training and post-project action confirmed one important truth: young people are capable of being peacebuilders if they are given the chance. They do not need to wait for adults to fix problems. They can take part, lead, and even teach others. With the right guidance, young people in Romania and across Europe can grow into a generation that values understanding, respect, and cooperation.
Looking to the future, this experience from Milan will continue to shape the work of youth workers involved in the project. As communities face ongoing challenges—from social tensions to the digital spread of hate speech—it is more important than ever to equip young people with the emotional and social skills they need to respond peacefully. Peacebuilding is not only about ending conflict. It is about creating spaces where every voice is heard, every person is valued, and differences are welcomed.
The story of this Erasmus+ project shows that peace is built step by step, often quietly, but with great strength. From the streets of Milan to the centers of Romania, youth workers are planting seeds of understanding that will grow into more caring and resilient communities. Through training, collaboration, and action, they are proving that peace is possible—especially when led by youth.