Following the Erasmus+ training course “The Art of Dialogue as a Tool for Youth Workers” in Yerevan, the Georgian national team led a workshop titled Dialogue for Understanding. The aim was to meaningfully transfer and adapt dialogue tools and peacebuilding methodologies to a local context—engaging students and youth workers in and around Tbilisi.
The workshop combined theory, practical tools, and real-life reflection. It focused on inclusive dialogue, active listening, cultural identity, storytelling, and conflict sensitivity—using many of the approaches explored during the training in Armenia.
Workshop Goals
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Strengthen youth workers’ capacities to lead dialogue and practice empathy.
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Provide accessible methods for facilitating conversations across differences.
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Empower students to use dialogue in community-building and youth participation.
Key Activities
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Dialogue Foundations: A brief introduction to types of dialogue—informative, empathic, and conflict-resolution—followed by small group reflections.
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Story Circles and Role Play: Youth engaged in storytelling and perspective-switching exercises that deepened understanding of shared challenges.
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Active Listening Lab: In pairs, participants practiced listening silently to a peer’s personal story, then summarizing back what they heard—revealing common listening patterns and barriers.
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Cultural Identity Mapping: Each participant created and shared a personal identity map, highlighting values, traditions, and personal experiences.
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Conflict Mediation Practice: Groups role-played common conflict scenarios using dialogue-based resolution techniques.
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Youth Dialogue for Change: A brainstorming session on applying workshop concepts to peer-led initiatives and local Erasmus+ opportunities.
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Closing Circle: Participants shared a final reflection, insight, or personal learning takeaway.
Participant Refle
ctions
“Peace is when people are brave enough to hear more than their own voice.”
“This workshop gave me tools to be a better listener—and the courage to open dialogue when it's hard.”
“I now see dialogue as something we build together, not something we win.”
Outputs
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A collaborative online platform was launched to document and archive youth-led dialogue initiatives and materials.
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Participants co-created a mini-manual titled “Dialogue Starts Here” which will be used in future Civil Forum youth trainings.
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Several participants expressed strong interest in joining upcoming Erasmus+ projects, and one student began drafting a concept for a campus dialogue club.