2024 Youth Peace Camp: fostering dialogue and peacebuilding

From 2-9 Julythe 2024 Youth Peace Camp hosted by the Council of Europe is taking place at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. This transformative event brings together 80 young participants from regions deeply affected by conflicts, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Kosovo*, Republic of Moldova, and the South Caucasus.

As the flagship activity of the Council of Europe's Youth sector, the camp contributes significantly to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.

At the core of the Youth Peace Camp lies an important mission: to promote dialogue, understanding, and peacebuilding among diverse youth. Through a meticulously designed program, participants engage in human rights education, intercultural learning, and conflict transformation. These young people explore ways to bridge divides, challenge stereotypes, and foster empathy across borders.

Central to the concept of the Youth Peace Camp is the motivation to engage with other young people - individuals with whom meaningful contacts or cooperation might otherwise be challenging. The European Youth Centre in Strasbourg provides the ideal setting for this transformative experience. The camp transcends discussions, offering an experiential learning process. Participants share their personal stories and discover common ground. They develop critical competences for peacebuilding, including active listening, mediation, and intergroup dialogue. By living, learning, and collaborating, together they break down barriers that might otherwise keep them apart.

The Youth Peace Camp also serves as a platform for the Council of Europe's youth sector to identify and document challenges faced by young people in conflict regions. This firsthand knowledge informs strategies to support youth projects in these areas.

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.