Will There Ever Be Peace?!
The Will There Ever Be Peace?! project offers young people a space for meaningful discussions about peace, war, violence, conflict, and social responsibility. At a time when armed conflicts, militarization, hate speech, and social polarization are becoming increasingly widespread, young people often encounter these issues primarily through the media and social networks. While information is abundant, opportunities for reflection, dialogue, and developing their own informed perspectives remain limited.
The project is led by the Peace Institute, in partnership with the Federation of Friends of Youth Maribor and the Protestant University of Rwanda Peace Club. The Rwandan partner will contribute valuable experience in peace education, reconciliation, and youth work in a post-conflict context.
The project’s primary target group is secondary school students, while university students play a key role as young facilitators and multipliers. At least ten university students will be trained to acquire the knowledge, pedagogical skills, and organizational competencies needed to deliver workshops on peace, non-violence, and global challenges. In this way, the project goes beyond organizing individual activities by establishing a long-term network of young educators who will continue developing and delivering workshops even after the project has ended.
A distinctive feature of the project is its peer-to-peer approach, where young people engage with other young people. Because of the relatively small age gap between university and secondary school students, communication is more direct, informal, and relatable. This approach fosters greater trust, encourages active participation, and makes complex topics more accessible by connecting them to young people’s own language and experiences.
The project will deliver at least 22 workshops in secondary schools across Slovenia, involving approximately 650 students. The workshops will be based on global learning methodologies, including dialogue, group work, reflection, creative expression, and engagement with real-life stories from people living in conflict and post-conflict settings. Students will explore the causes and consequences of conflict, the importance of peace and non-violence, and the ways in which they can contribute to building a more inclusive and supportive society.
The project will also include a creative competition in which students will design posters, slogans, illustrations, and other messages promoting peace. The best entries will receive awards, be exhibited in schools, and be featured in the project’s online communication activities. In this way, young people will transform their ideas into public messages that reach and inspire the wider community.
The project’s long-term goal is to develop a sustainable model of peace education. By training university students, strengthening cooperation with schools, developing educational materials, and evaluating the project’s impact, it will establish a foundation for continuing peace education workshops in a variety of educational and youth settings.
Will There Ever Be Peace?! is based on the conviction that peace should never be taken for granted. It must be built through knowledge, dialogue, empathy, and cooperation—especially with young people, who will help shape the future.
Partners:
Project Coordinator: Peace Institute
Project Partners:
- Federation of Friends of Youth Maribor
- Protestant University of Rwanda Peace Club – the Rwandan partner will contribute its expertise in peace education, reconciliation, and youth work in post-conflict settings.
Funders:
