The study session “Youth at the Heart of Peacebuilding: Training of Trainers for Inclusive Dialogue and Community Resilience” was held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest between 9 and 14 February.

Hosted by the Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (YPAN) in collaboration with the member organisation, Association “Penktas Kampas” (Lithuania) and the Council of Europe Youth Department, this study session brought together 20 young people from 17 different countries.

 Over six days, participants engaged in interactive workshops, peer-to-peer learning and experiential activities, designed to strengthen their competences as youth trainers. Key themes covered by the session were conflict analysis, active listening, trauma awareness and inclusive dialogue. With the support of the educational team, participants co-created and ran mock training sessions while sharing their best practices.

 The programme also encouraged participants to design follow-up initiatives, empowering them to act as multipliers in their local communities. The study session highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the skills to foster dialogue among different communities and to contribute to peacebuilding efforts.

 Reflecting on the experience, Eftichia, a participant from Greece, said: “Talking about peace in these times we are experiencing, some would say we are talking about a utopia. Peace comes from everyday actions, communities, and care. This is exactly what I'm experiencing in this study session, among other young people who believe living in peace is achievable and are rooting for it.”