In March 2025, a meaningful journey began in Yerevan, Armenia, where youth workers from across Europe and neighboring countries came together for the Erasmus+ training course called “The Art of Dialogue as a Tool for Youth Workers.” This project was created to give youth workers the skills to support young people in conflict resolution, dialogue facilitation, and peacebuilding. Organized in a time when many communities face tension and division, the training focused on practical methods for promoting empathy, understanding, and active listening. It became a space of connection, where young professionals learned how to create safe environments for conversations that heal and unite.
For the participant representing the NGO Together For Youth from France, this training came at a crucial time. In recent years, France has experienced rising tensions between communities. In many areas, especially in urban neighborhoods, young people face growing pressure. Social divisions, cultural misunderstandings, and the spread of online hate speech have made it harder for youth to feel safe and heard. Many young people struggle to find spaces where they can express themselves without fear of judgment or rejection. Some feel disconnected from public life or are unsure how to respond to everyday conflict in their schools or communities.
Before the training, youth work in France had already been focused on promoting inclusion, diversity, and civic participation. However, many youth workers still lacked the tools to deal with emotional conflict, group tension, or situations where participants had strong disagreements. There was a need to go deeper—to teach not only tolerance but also dialogue as a method of peace. That is why this Erasmus+ project felt so relevant and necessary.
The training in Yerevan opened new doors. One of the first things that surprised the participant from France was the emotional honesty in the room. People shared stories of living through division, migration, discrimination, or political unrest. These were not stories to impress or entertain. They were real, personal, and powerful. In those moments, the participant understood that dialogue is more than talking. It is listening with the goal of understanding, not replying. This was a lesson that would shape all the work that came after.
During the five-day training, participants learned and practiced dialogue facilitation tools. They took part in sessions on active listening, nonviolent communication, and mediation. They were encouraged to try real-life situations, such as group conflicts or cultural misunderstandings, and explore how to respond with empathy and clarity. These exercises were not only helpful but transformative. They showed how every youth worker, no matter their background, can become a peaceful guide for their community.
The Armenian hosts also shared examples of local projects that used storytelling and dialogue to rebuild trust in areas affected by past conflict. This inspired the participant from France to think about the role of shared memory in peacebuilding. Seeing how other youth workers used cultural tools like music, theatre, and visual art gave them ideas for how similar projects could be developed back home.
After returning to France, the participant started working on a new local initiative with the support of Together For Youth. The project was called “Dialogues Citoyens” and focused on helping young people in multicultural neighborhoods create safe spaces for honest conversation. The format was simple but powerful. Small groups of youth, aged 16 to 22, met weekly in community centers or schools. Each session began with a short story or theme—such as identity, family, or belonging—and ended with an open discussion. The facilitator used the tools from the Yerevan training to guide the conversations, help manage emotions, and ensure that every voice was respected.
The most important rule was that everyone listened without interrupting. At first, many participants found this difficult. Some were used to debates where the loudest voice won. Others were afraid of being judged. But slowly, as the meetings continued, the atmosphere changed. Young people started sharing personal experiences—about discrimination, pressure at school, or problems at home. These conversations did not always end in agreement. But they ended in understanding. And that, the youth worker realized, was more important.
The impact of the “Dialogues Citoyens” project spread quickly. Teachers and parents noticed a change in the young participants. Some became more confident. Others became more patient. One group decided to create a short video series where they shared the lessons of dialogue through interviews and street conversations. They presented this project at a local youth festival, where it received strong positive feedback.
The training in Yerevan had not only given technical skills but had created a new way of thinking. For the youth worker from Together For Youth, dialogue was no longer just a method. It was a lifestyle. A way of meeting others with respect. A way of asking not just what someone says, but why they say it. A way of turning difficult moments into opportunities to connect.
This experience also influenced the NGO’s wider approach. Inspired by the success of the local program, Together For Youth began training other youth workers in similar dialogue techniques. They organized peer sessions, adapted the methods for digital environments, and shared the story of the Yerevan training with partners across Europe. The idea was simple: if dialogue can transform one group, it can transform many.
As the project continues to grow, its message becomes more clear. Young people do not need to be told what peace looks like. They need to be trusted to build it themselves. They need tools, not answers. They need safe spaces, not loud slogans. The participant from France now sees youth work not only as education, but as empowerment through presence, patience, and participation.
Looking forward, the hope is that this generation of young people will carry these lessons into their future lives—as teachers, parents, artists, or leaders. They will remember that every disagreement is a chance to learn. That every silence holds a story. That peace is not something distant or abstract, but something we build every time we choose to listen instead of react.
In a world that feels more divided every day, the work of youth workers matters more than ever. The Erasmus+ project in Yerevan was not just a training. It was a reminder that change starts with connection. And that connection starts with dialogue. Thanks to that experience, the youth worker from France returned home not only with new tools, but with a new mission: to turn conversations into bridges, and young people into builders of peace.