Dialogues for Democracy

The Challenge
War and conflict between different ethnic groups and nationalities continue to erupt around the world, spanning every continent. Monte Sole Peace School questions the context that made systematic terror possible in Monte Sole and elsewhere over time. By analyzing the motives behind past conflict and exploring these issues with present-day citizens from all walks of life, Monte Sole Peace School’s Dialogue for Democracy program provides a forum for debate and offers information and strategies for non-violent means of productive humanitarian engagement and conflict resolution.

The Dialogue for Democracy Questions

What brought about the violence in Monte Sole?
Who were the perpetrators of the Monte Sole massacre?
How can ‘normal’ people, in specific situations and further to racist education, become executioners?
Which kind of consciousness and responsibility could prevent this kind of violence in present times?

The Program
“Peace in 4 Voices” camp brings together 40 youth (15-18 year olds) from current or past conflict regions to spend 15 days in a residential camp to learn the history of Monte Sole and conduct a series of workshops on identity and conflict resolution. Peace Camps always involve four different nationalities or ethnic groups (e.g. Italians, Germans, Israelis and Palestinians; and with Italians, Germans, Serbians, and Albanians.)

The program begins with a personal stories activity that allows students to get to know one another on a personal level about day-to-day life, emotions, ideas, and wishes. In small mixed groups of four, the students write descriptions about themselves on identity cards, which they later share in larger groups through a performance depicting their new group identity. During a hiking activity, students experience Monte Sole’s natural surroundings and work together. By staying together and helping each other throughout the day, the activity builds group solidarity. On the first few days of activities, participants explore issues of propaganda, education and the role of media, and they are also encouraged to think about stereotypes, in order to unveil the stereotyped vision of the “other” and prejudices.

During Conflict Day, students directly address their countries’ current conflict. by presenting their points of view to the other ethnic group, while each group listens respectfully. The students do not discuss the point of view that is presented, but are made aware of the existence of other versions of a shared history. The camp workshops end with a human rights activity where mixed groups of 8 students review the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and select the most important rights for the group. Based on these rights, students craft an imaginary Constitution for a utopian city where they would like to live.

Impact
“Peace in 4 Voices” summer camp promotes productive, ongoing and humanitarian engagement for youth in conflict areas. Small, active workshops encourage participants to not only talk to each other, but to create something by working together, forcing them through the difficult process of producing concrete outcomes such as panels, performances, and pictures. By living together in mixed groups by nationality, students must interact and confront each other on personal life issues every day.

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Dialogues for Democracy

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