Local actions of the Peace Fellowship — Young people making a difference
What is your small action for peace?
The Peace Fellowship project has inspired young people across different countries to take action and make a real difference in their communities. Besides taking part in different courses and workshops, our Fellows worked also in national cohorts to identify human rights issues and developed action plans to raise awareness and advocate for change.
While we became so inspired when simultaneously actions were happening in the seven different places around Europe, we wanted to share the actions with you as well, so you might replicate them in your local communities.
Germany — Stickers for human rights
In Germany, fellows created and distributed stickers to raise awareness about freedom of expression, especially in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The stickers also highlighted various human rights issues like the right to life and shelter worldwide, aiming to build empathy and understanding among the public.
Kosovo - Together in Peacebuilding
Kosovo’s local action was a one-day event called “Together in Peacebuilding.” It included presentations on peace, conflict, and violence, and showcased successful peacebuilding initiatives in Kosovo. Participants engaged in various activities to recognize silent forms of violence and learn how to address them. “I think it is very important to talk about peace and understand what it is. What would be good to add is ‘dealing with the past,’ because we cannot change if we don’t know what happened,” shared one participant.
Poland — A day of artivism and craftivism
In Poland, the local action focused on artivism and craftivism to highlight the issue of refugee pushbacks at the Polish-Belarusian border. The day started with a theoretical introduction to artivism and craftivism, followed by creative activities like stencil graffiti, screen printing, and embroidery, allowing participants to express their advocacy artistically.
Ukraine — Youth forum “About Youth: See, Try, and Have Your Say”
In Ukraine, a forum brought together over 80 young people from the Sumy region on January 26–27, 2024. Activities included an “avenue of opportunities” where youth could learn about local initiatives, workshops on youth participation, and an open space for discussing and solving local issues. “Finally, the youth was heard! Open Space was incredible! A fruitful conversation about problems and solutions. Thanks to the organizers for creating a platform for our voice!” said participant Nazar Pedchenko.
Spain — Workshop on xenophobia and gentrification
Spain’s workshop in Javea on January 31, 2024, addressed xenophobia and gentrification. Held in the coworking space “Comboi,” it brought together locals, nomads, and expats to foster understanding and empathy. The workshop sparked meaningful conversations and promoted self-reflection among participants. “I got new perspectives I never thought about before, and it was super helpful,” remarked one participant.
France — Community and ecology workshops
In France, the local actions focused on food access and ecological education. One workshop taught participants how to build gardening containers and grow food, gathering 20 people. Another event in Thonon invited diverse community members to cook and share a meal together, promoting community connections.
Turkiye — Non-violent communication skills for University students
Turkey’s local action, in partnership with Bogazici University, aimed to equip university students with non-violent communication skills. This initiative targeted future educators, intending to integrate peace education into formal curricula and foster a culture of understanding and conflict resolution in schools. By empowering future teachers, this action seeked to create lasting change in education.
For all of us who have been involved in Peace Fellowship, these local actions showcased the incredible dedication and creativity of young people in addressing human rights issues and building peace in their communities. Through these initiatives, participants have not only raised awareness and inspired change but have also developed essential skills and built strong networks of peacebuilders.
Finally, we believe that the Peace Fellowship has empowered young people to transform their acquired knowledge into real-world actions, demonstrating that positive change is possible when communities come together. Their efforts keep reminding us that each individual, no matter their background, can contribute to creating a more just and peaceful world.
WHAT IS YOUR SMALL ACTION FOR PEACE? :)
PEACE FELLOWSHIP is a project financed by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme and implemented by Peace Up! in cooperation with the Youth Peace Ambassadors Network.
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