“fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” – Exchange Program Promotes Nonviolence and Democracy
The project “fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” by act for transformation, cooperative based in Aalen, is one of the award winners in the 2024 “Active for Democracy and Tolerance” competition hosted by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb)! This international exchange program brought together young adults from Georgia, Poland, Armenia, and Germany, inspiring them to engage locally in nonviolence, dialogue, and democracy.
In two intercultural training seminar weeks for multipliers held in Bakuriani, Georgia, and Schwäbisch Gmünd/Aalen, 25 young participants explored topics such as nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, transcultural coexistence, and civic engagement. Using interactive methods like role-playing and discussions, practical approaches were conveyed.
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In their communities, the participants organized youth initiative projects involving around 220 young people, both with and without refugee backgrounds. These creative formats included city rallies, quiz nights, and juggling workshops. During online meetings, the young multipliers discussed inclusion and democracy with representatives of local politics. Monika, a participant from Armenia, emphasized the importance of such projects, especially in current times:
“The training in Georgia was the best experience I’ve ever had! This project is a great example of how young people can use the knowledge and experiences gained through international exchange programs to make a difference in their local communities.”
A year after the 2022 exchange program, the participants reunited in Schwäbisch Gmünd and Aalen in 2023 to share their experiences. They also discussed opportunities for political engagement for youth with the Aalen Youth Council. Representatives from the Youth Council of Zugdidi in Georgia joined the discussions, making the exchange highly enriching for everyone involved.
The project was successfully implemented with the support of young adults, mentors, volunteers, and one full-time staff member, and was funded by the European Union through Youth for Europe (Erasmus Program). Partner organizations included act for transformation, cooperative, the Institute of Innovation Foundation in Poland, Association Atinati and the Center for Peace and Civic Development in Georgia, as well as Armenian Progressive Youth in Armenia.
Projects like “fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” highlight the importance of international collaboration, nonviolence, and democracy education for our society. To ensure that such valuable exchange programs can continue in the future, we rely on your support. For more information about our work and ways to support us, please visit our website.
You can now support our current peace projects via: https://www.betterplace.org/en/organisations/15393-act-for-transformation-gem-eg. Every donation helps us to continue our work for peace and social change.
Thank you very much for your support!
In 2021 we started together with our partner Association Atinati the initiative Global Peace Room. The Global Peace Rooms support peace-education, intercultural exchange and global learning with our global partner.
Act for transformation – Caucasus Office opened one Global Peace Room in Tbilisi. Our partner NGO Association Atinati opened in Zudgdidi a second Global Peace Room and we have it in Um-Welthaus Aalen.
Idea of the Global Peace Room:
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The Global Peace Room is a save space were people from different countries, regions, social and cultural backgrounds come together, get to know each other, share their perspectives and thus develop mutual understanding and a more peaceful living together.
Children, youth, youth workers and teachers can learn and share ideas about topics connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the United Nations, for instance peaceful living together, non-violence conflict resolution, peace activism, human rights, gender equality and environment protection.
Seminars on peace issues
We offer seminars on various peace topics:
and training of trainers for these seminars.
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The war in Ukraine has forced many young people from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to Georgia and Armenia in the South Caucasus, partly because they refuse to do military service in their country. To support these people, we offer counseling for conscientious objectors, which is available via a hotline or telegram. Topics relating to the right to stay in the countries, asylum in Europe and other countries and personal concerns can be discussed in the online chat. If necessary, we can arrange legal or psychological support in the region and in Germany.
As a member of EBCO (European Bureau for Conscientious Objectors), we observe and monitor the protection of conscientious objectors' rights in the region and contribute to the report for the European Commission. We are working together with human right groups and lawyers in the region.
Assesment to peace eduction Germany and Georgia
Assesment to protection of rights for consciencios objectors in Caucasus
Fairtogether Manul - sturcuture
in English, Georgian, Armenian, Aserbaidshan, Ukraine