“PeaceAct” is a strategic partnership project aiming to foster Peace Education among youth workers in Estonia, Finland, Slovenia and Georgia, enhancing their capacities to promote peace, democracy, and social cohesion in their communities.
This training of trainers aimed to build meaningful connections from like-minded educators from all the participating countries and provide competencies in the fields of Democracy Education, Peace Education and Futures Coaching.
Here are the insights from the participants representing Shokkin Goup:
“At ‘PeaceAct’, I got to truly practice listening. Not just nodding, not jumping in with my own opinion or trying to add to someone else’s words, but actually giving space for the other person’s thoughts. The most unexpected part was the blindfold exercise – it completely shut off visual distractions and allowed me to focus only on the voice and meaning behind the words. I realized that even without body language and facial expressions, you can deeply hear someone if you give them time and attention.
But the training wasn’t just about listening; it was also about the courage to speak up, about expressing disagreement confidently without breaking the conversation. I learned that compromise isn’t a weakness, but a strategy that helps mobilize people and lead to better decisions.
We trained activism not as an abstract concept but through real actions, learning how to turn ideas into initiatives.
The biggest lesson I took away is that democracy requires muscle memory. It’s not just a theory, but a skill that can be developed—just like empathy, curiosity, and verbal confidence. Now I know that even a pause in conversation can be a powerful tool, and disagreement can be a point of growth if expressed in the right way. This experience will definitely stay with me, and I’m already thinking about how to apply it in my future projects!”
Maryna Zhyrna
“After seven years working in the field of youth work, it is rare to come across methods that truly surprise me — but Peace Act did exactly that.
I learned about Democracy Fitness, a creative way to train democratic “muscles” like listening, curiosity, and expression — all in an energetic, gym-style format. Then there was Future Coaching from Finland, a brilliant tool to help young people reflect on their future with confidence. And finally, a deep dive into Peace Education made me rethink how we create truly peaceful, inclusive environments.
The training was short but super intense and packed with value. I’ve already started applying what I learned — and it works!”
Anastassija Mašošina
“I became interested in the project because the concept of actively making and sustaining peace deeply resonates with me. However, I felt I lacked the knowledge and skills in this area.
The Democratic Fitness block taught me how important mutual respect and active listening are, especially in situations of disagreement. I also realized that trust is, in fact, a muscle of democracy — something that needs to be trained and exercised regularly.
The Peace Education block reminded me of the concepts of oppression and privilege, and introduced me to the difference between negative and positive peace. Positive peace, as I understood it, consists of those small, everyday actions we take to nurture and sustain peace.
The Futures Coaching block gave me a powerful insight: believing in a better future can empower us in the present. Through imagining my desired future, I was able to better understand my current values, preferences, and needs.
Thanks to this training, I now choose more mindfully when and with whom to express disagreement. I try to give more space to trust in my daily life, to dream more, and to envision hopeful futures. I also allow myself to feel vulnerable when I am not in a position of privilege.”
Marina Ditina
“Working daily with the school’s Student Council and helping young people find their voice, I came to ‘PeaceAct’ with the hope of finding new tools to support their growth — and I left with much more.
This training helped me see peace not just as an abstract value, but as something that can be practiced in small everyday decisions — in how we listen, in how we speak up, and in how we build trust in a group. I especially connected with the idea of “Democracy Fitness” — it made me think about how we can strengthen democratic habits in students through fun, structured formats, like we do with physical fitness.
Futures Coaching gave me useful tools to help students reflect on their values and goals. In a multicultural school setting, these methods can support young people in navigating their identity and planning ahead in a constructive way.
I’m glad I had the chance to take part in this project. I have returned with several practical ideas and look forward to trying them out in my work with students.”
Anna Zavolner
“The Training of Trainers of ‘PeaceAct’ was a safe haven where like-minded individuals got to experiment with three different, yet very aligned methodologies. From facilitating a non-formal education session in a team to reflecting on our own values, privileges and identities, it was a great start to new facilitators, and a great opportunity for self-assessment for the experienced ones.
The Training marked the official start of activities of the project, which will continue at a national level with Local Peace Actions and training activities, so keep an open eye!”
Olalla González
