In September 2023, a group of passionate youth workers from across Europe and the surrounding regions gathered in Yerevan, Armenia, to take part in an Erasmus+ training course titled “Youth in Action: Fostering Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution and Employability Skills.” The project focused on helping youth workers gain essential skills to support young people in today’s world. The training included three main themes—peacebuilding, career development, and cross-cultural understanding. These themes were closely connected to the social and emotional needs of youth in many countries. One youth worker, representing the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum, joined the program with a strong motivation to learn how to build more inclusive communities and to offer new opportunities for young people in Jordan.
In Jordan, the situation for youth is often filled with both hope and challenge. On one side, the country has a young and vibrant population with a growing interest in education, innovation, and change. On the other side, many young people face high unemployment, limited resources, and social pressure. There are also cultural and generational differences that create misunderstandings and sometimes conflict. Youth from refugee backgrounds, remote villages, or low-income families may feel left out of development programs. Before the training in Armenia, the youth worker noticed that young people in Jordan wanted to be involved in solving problems but did not always have the tools to work together or speak up for themselves. There was a real need for peaceful dialogue and leadership opportunities in local communities.
The experience in Yerevan was both powerful and emotional. For the Jordanian participant, it was the first time being in such a diverse environment where people from different countries, religions, and cultures came together for one purpose. The training sessions offered more than just lectures. They were interactive, creative, and deeply human. The session on empathy and emotional intelligence stood out the most. It showed how listening without judgment could create trust, even between strangers. The participants practiced non-violent communication, mediation techniques, and team-building games that helped them reflect on their own behaviors and thoughts. Every evening, they shared their stories and cultural traditions during intercultural nights, which helped break down stereotypes and build strong friendships.
One of the most touching moments of the training was visiting local Armenian organizations that supported youth affected by social conflict. These organizations showed how education and dialogue could bring new hope to young people who had lived through hardship. The visit reminded the Jordanian youth worker of similar communities back home. The training gave a clear message: peace starts with connection, and connection starts with understanding. With every new activity, the idea grew stronger that youth workers are not only teachers or guides—they are bridge-builders. They help young people see their own value and recognize the value in others.
When the youth worker returned to Jordan, there was a strong desire to put these lessons into practice. With the support of the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum, a new community initiative was launched called “Voices of Peace.” This program was designed for young people aged 16 to 25 and focused on peace education, leadership, and communication. The goal was to bring together youth from different parts of the country—urban areas, rural villages, and refugee communities—and help them build the skills to become peacebuilders in their own environment. Inspired by the training in Yerevan, the sessions used storytelling, dialogue circles, and roleplay to help participants connect and reflect. Young people also learned about active listening, conflict resolution, and how to organize small local events to promote inclusion and diversity.
The impact of “Voices of Peace” grew quickly. The participants said it was the first time they were asked to speak honestly about their emotions and experiences. Many shared stories of misunderstanding, fear, or exclusion—and felt supported by the group for the first time. The program helped them feel seen and respected. Some participants decided to start their own youth clubs in their neighborhoods, where they continued to use the peacebuilding methods. One young woman from a refugee background said that after the sessions, she felt confident enough to speak at her school assembly about the importance of tolerance. Others began writing short stories and poems about peace and identity. The project also attracted the attention of local educators and municipal leaders, who visited the sessions and expressed interest in applying the same approach in their own programs.
In just a few months, “Voices of Peace” helped create new friendships, new leaders, and new hopes. The participants continued meeting online even after the official sessions ended, creating a network of young peacebuilders across the country. The project made it clear that youth have the ideas and the heart to change their communities—they just need the right tools and encouragement. Thanks to the Erasmus+ training in Armenia, the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum was able to offer something meaningful, something that could grow and continue beyond the original idea.
This journey showed that peacebuilding is not only about big speeches or global events. It is about daily actions, local voices, and human relationships. The young people who took part in the training and the follow-up project now understand that change does not always come from above. It starts in circles, in small meetings, in shared experiences. It starts when someone listens and someone speaks. It starts when people understand that difference is not a problem—it is a chance to learn.
The long-term vision is to bring this approach to more regions in Jordan and to include it in school programs, youth centers, and municipal initiatives. The team at the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum is already working on a new phase of the project, with plans to train other youth workers across the region using the same methods. The dream is to build a generation of young people who are not afraid of differences, who know how to talk about hard things, and who believe in peace as a way of life.
Youth today are not waiting. They are searching. They are dreaming. They are building. With the right support, they are becoming the voices of peace and the leaders of tomorrow. Through international cooperation, personal reflection, and local action, the Erasmus+ experience in Armenia became more than just a training—it became a story of connection, courage, and change.