We are pleased to introduce “Inclusive Pathways to Peace”, a transformative project that began in February 2024 and will run until September 2026. This initiative, supported by the Croatian Agency for Mobility and EU Programs under Erasmus+ Key Action 2, brings together partners from Croatia (Udruga Studio B), Serbia (Udruzenje Svetlost), Spain (Erasmiau), and Cyprus (YEU Cyprus) to address pressing social challenges through peace education, media literacy, and civic engagement.
🌿 Why This Project?
This initiative was developed following an extensive needs analysis conducted by Studio B and Svetlost, which highlighted the ongoing impact of past conflicts and social divisions in Croatia and Serbia. By including Spain, a country facing internal separatist challenges, and Cyprus, the only EU country whose capital remains divided after 50 years, we have expanded our understanding of how historical and political conflicts shape young people’s perspectives.
A common challenge identified across these countries is the lack of media literacy skills and comprehensive civic education, which leaves young people more vulnerable to extremist ideologies and social polarization. Inclusive Pathways to Peace aims to bridge this gap by providing innovative educational resources, practical tools, and training opportunities that empower young people and youth workers with conflict resolution skills, critical thinking abilities, and a stronger commitment to democratic values.
📌 What We Aim to Achieve
Over the course of the project, we will:
✔️ Engage 181 young people in game-based educational activities that develop conflict resolution skills
✔️ Train 130 youth workers in innovative methodologies to enhance peace education efforts
✔️ Create 8 interactive educational escape rooms, incorporating 360° photos, videos, and augmented reality (AR)
✔️ Develop a comprehensive set of educational resources available in six languages (English, Croatian, Serbian, Greek, Turkish, and Spanish) to ensure accessibility and impact beyond national borders
✔️ Implement Participatory Action Research (PAR) with teams of at least five young people per country, ensuring that youth perspectives actively shape the project’s activities and outcomesFirst Transnational Meeting in Cyprus
To officially launch the project, partners gathered in Cyprus for our first transnational meeting, where we:
📌 Finalized the Dissemination and Exploitation Strategy to ensure the project’s outcomes reach a broad audience
📌 Defined the project’s visual identity and Communication Strategy to strengthen engagement
📌 Outlined implementation steps and division of responsibilities among partners
This meeting provided a crucial opportunity for partners to align on key priorities and share insights, setting the foundation for meaningful collaboration.
💡 Looking Ahead
In the coming months, we will conduct Participatory Action Research (PAR) with teams of at least five young people per country, exploring their views on violence, social divisions, and ways to foster peace. This approach recognizes that action can emerge as a result of research, but it can also serve as a tool to facilitate the research process itself. By directly involving young people in this methodology, we aim to empower them as active contributors to positive change.
These insights will guide the development of our educational escape rooms and digital resources, ensuring they are relevant and impactful. We are excited about the potential of this initiative to promote tolerance, inclusion, and peaceful conflict resolution among young people across Europe.
We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. If you would like to learn more or explore potential collaboration opportunities, feel free to reach out!