In overcoming conflict and violence, young people’s involvement in the process of peace is one of the main elements for establishing permanent peace. The workshop, which will be focusing on the importance of working with the youth in the processes of peace building, will be held on 16 October in Hrant Dink Foundation and facilitated by Martin McMullan from YouthAction Northern Ireland, who is a part of various initiatives involved in the peace building processes in Europe and Africa.
In the workshop, McMullan will tell about his experience on conflict resolution and the participants are expected to share their experiences of living in a polarized society in conflict. McMullan also invites the participants to think together for developing ways for including young people in reconciliation processes.
You may fill the form below to attend the workshop that will be held on October 16.
Maximum number of participants is limited to 15. Application process will end on October 10 at 6 p.m.
Applicants who have been carrying out works on topics such as conflict, polarization, conflict resolution and peace building will have priority in selection of participants.
The event is in English.
PROGRAM
12.30-12.45: Opening speech and acquaintance
12.45-13.00: Assessment of personal experiences and notions for recognizing polarization and conflict
13.00-13.30: Group action: Key notions and terminology in peace-building
13.30-14.00: Thoughts on practices of working with the youth (Working methods and discussion of experienced challenges)
14:00-14.15: Break
14.15-15.00: Practical techniques for involvement of young people and adults in discussion
15.00-15.45: Suggestions for peace building through experiences of youth studies
About Martin McMullan (Assistant Director, YouthAction Northern Ireland)
Since qualifying as a professional Youth and Community worker in 1997 Martin has worked for YouthAction Northern Ireland. He has been actively involved in the practice and strategic development of gender-conscious practice, peace-building work, youth participation, inclusive practices (LGBT, Traveller), area-based youth work strategies and widening access for young people to further and higher education. He has helped to secure over €6 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund to develop localised initiatives which support peace-building with young people across divided communities in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
McMullan has been involved in multiple peace-related initiatives across Europe and Africa. He was a member of an academic/practice research team within the Western Balkans exploring youth issues within a contested society; he presented as part of the Peace Network of European Cities and regions seminar in Cyprus; presented as part of a University of Tennessee initiative in Cape-town: “The role, contribution and challenges of youth work in addressing conflict and violence in Northern Ireland”; and presented at the Brussels 7th European Union conference.
McMullan has been actively involved in academic-practice based research projects related to young men and violence, young men and education, area-based research and most recently through his PhD at the University of Southampton “Separation and Sectarianism in NI: a perspective-based evaluation on the contribution of youth work.”
