Calendar > November 2001 >
Training Course on Mediation and Conflict Resolution

5-11 November 2001

The overall objective of this course is to enable participants to competently deal with issues of conflict, their mediation and resolution, in educational activities involving multi-cultural groups of participants.  Within this context, the training course will specifically focus on how to work on conflict resolution in youth work and how to use intercultural approaches to conflict mediation and resolution.

The core objectives of this training course are:

- to familiarise the participants with commonly used concepts of mediation and conflict resolution;
- to develop intercultural competence among the participants;
- to develop the awareness of participants about the different levels on which conflict can occur (inter-personal, organisational, between groups, international, etc.);
- to use the multi-cultural group of participants as a learning space on mediation and conflict resolution;
- to develop the awareness of participants about the conditions under which conflicts arise in international and multi-cultural youth activities;
- to develop the competence of participants in using methods of mediation and conflict resolution;
- to help participants contextualise modern day conflict and its causes in the framework of international and multi-cultural youth activities;
- to train participants in the use of intercultural learning approaches to conflict.

The course is designed to provide a space for reflection and the practice of working tools related to mediation and conflict resolution.

The course is designed as a mutual learning situation, where participants can experience and compare different approaches to mediation, conflict resolution and intercultural learning in youth work. Participants will be called upon to use their creative potential to experiment with existing and new working methods. Contributions from experts will help to create the theoretical and practical framework in which participants will reflect upon existing concepts, as well as attempting to develop new approaches with the assistance of the team of trainers. French and English are foreseen as the working languages of the course.

Level: professional

Location: Strasbourg, France

Participants: Active members of International Youth Organisations (INGYOs), National Youth Councils (NYCs), other youth organisations or networks, governmental services and other partners, in particular those co-operating with the European Youth Centres or the European Youth Foundation, the Youth programme of the European Union and European Voluntary Service programmes will be selected for this course. Candidates should have a specific practical experience in the field of conflict resolution, mediation and/or intercultural learning through work in multicultural settings, inter-community projects, reconciliation projects, anti-racism work etc. In general, candidates should be aged between 18 and 35 years and be actively involved in a youth organisation or governmental service, and in a position to take on responsibilities within international or intercultural activities after the course.

Tuition, fee, lodging: Board and lodging is provided and paid for by the Directorate of Youth and Sport. Travel expenses and visa fees are reimbursed (upon presentation of the relevant receipts) according to Directorate of Youth and Sport rules. Payment is made at the end of the course in cash (French Francs) or, in exceptional cases, by bank transfer. An enrolment fee of US$ 54 (approximately, 350FF) per participant will be deducted from the amount to be reimbursed for travel expenses. All candidates must apply using an application form. This form should be sent directly to the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, together with a letter of recommendation from the sending organisation or service, by 20 July 2001.

Contact Information:
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
30, rue Pierre de Coubertin
F - 67000 Strasbourg
FRANCE
Tel: +33 3 88 41 23 00
Fax: +33 3 88 41 27 77/78
E-mail: nina.kapoor@coe.int
Web: http://www.coe.fr/youth