The local activities within Peace Fellowship were designed to practise the acquired competencies in the local realities of the Peace Fellows. Participants were encouraged to build the local networks to support their peacebuilding activities. The local activities were supported locally by each of the partner organisations, so that their work could have been multiplied in their communities. The local activities consisted of two elements: workshops and actions.
Local workshops
These meetings aimed to deepen understanding of country-relevant issues and to address the learning needs of the participants in the implementation of their local actions. Each workshop was tailored specifically to its location, or to the mapped needs of the Peace Fellows. Each of the partner organisations has implemented 3 workshops.
Peace Ambassadors Poland conducted three workshops:
1. Getting to know (and trying to tame) your inner critic through improv theatre practices.
Participants explored how it feels to act even if afraid of being judged and how it affects creative potential and self-confidence.
2. Creating brave spaces
The workshop aimed to present the concept of brave spaces as an alternative approach to safe space.
3. Do No Harm and Inclusion in Youthwork
Workshop on cultivating safe spaces for youth empowerment. Participants explored the principles of “Do No Harm” and trauma-informed youth work, emphasising the importance of emotional safety.
Local actions
These activities were part of Peace Fellowship, during which fellows worked in national cohorts to identify one or two human rights issues, which they chose to respond to as peace activists. Participants needed to develop an action plan to create a change and implement awareness-raising activities, advocacy campaigns, or other educational actions. While implementing these initiatives, a special focus was made to cooperation with community members and local stakeholders.
Peace Ambassadors Poland local action was designed as a day of artivism and craftivism in the theme of peace. It consisted of theoretical introduction to artivism and craftivism, and was followed by the creative part. The creative part gave space to explore stencils for graffiti, screen printing and embroidery.