In Verona, following their participation in the Erasmus+ training course “The Art of Dialogue as a Tool for Youth Workers” held in Yerevan, Armenia, the team at Terra Dulcis facilitated a comprehensive dialogue-focused workshop. The event aimed to adapt and transfer the methodologies gained abroad to the local context, specifically engaging students at the University of Pavia.
The session built on the belief that youth and youth workers play a pivotal role in strengthening conflict resolution skills by acting as mediators, facilitators, and promoters of peaceful communication. By sharing practical tools—from storytelling and active listening to mediation and cultural mapping—the workshop equipped students to be not only conflict responders but also peacebuilders in their communities.
Workshop Goals
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Teach participants to lead peer dialogue and resolve conflict through reflective and inclusive communication.
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Promote intercultural understanding through storytelling and identity-based exercises.
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Adapt Erasmus+ tools to the university student environment and inspire local action.
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Foster youth awareness of dialogue as both a personal and societal tool for empathy and peacebuilding.
Key Activities
1. Introduction & Framing
The workshop opened with an introduction to the Erasmus+ training in Armenia and its core learning outcomes. The team shared the purpose of the workshop: to create a local space for dialogue, peer learning, and conflict sensitivity.
2. What Is Dialogue?
In contrast to debate, participants explored what it means to truly engage in dialogue—with openness, mutual respect, and the intention to listen without judgment. Group discussions and reflection tasks helped identify where and how these concepts could be used in personal, academic, and social settings.
3. Walking Dialogues & Identity Mapping
Building on the Yerevan training’s focus on cultural narratives, students took part in walking dialogues through Verona’s historic center. Back in the workshop space, they created identity maps, highlighting languages, values, traditions, and formative experiences. This led to rich myth-sharing sessions, where participants exchanged cultural stories and reflected on common human values.
4. Active Listening & Empathy
In a powerful experiential activity, students worked in pairs: one speaker, one silent listener. The listener then paraphrased what they heard—without critique. The exercise revealed how true presence and non-judgmental listening can transform relationships and reduce defensiveness.
5. Conflict Tree & Mediation Practice
The session transitioned into practical tools for managing conflict. Using a “conflict tree”, participants identified root causes, visible symptoms, and long-term impacts of everyday tensions. They then practiced mediation role-plays, stepping into the role of youth peacebuilders who guide others toward mutual understanding.
6. Local Action Brainstorming
The group reviewed youth-led initiatives presented in Armenia and brainstormed ideas for projects in Pavia and beyond. Several students expressed interest in hosting follow-up dialogue cafés, cultural exchange storytelling nights, and even joining the Erasmus+ network.
Participant Reflections
“We used history to understand each other’s fears—and hopes.”
“I never realized how much power listening has. It changed how I show up in conversations.”
“This made me want to share dialogue methods with my study group. We all need these tools.”
Outputs & Legacy
The workshop culminated in the co-creation of a photo-storyboard exhibit, “Echoes of Peace,” which visually captured themes of identity, dialogue, and coexistence. The exhibit was hosted at Verona’s youth center and plans are underway to bring it to local schools. Additionally, a core group of students formed a discussion circle to continue meeting monthly, guided by the methods from Yerevan.