Project Reference: 2023-3-CZ01-KA153-YOU-000181318
Status: Completed | Duration: Jan 2024 – Apr 2025 | EU Grant: 28,939 EUR
Programme: Erasmus+ | Action Type: Mobility of Youth Workers
Countries Involved: Czech Republic, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Bulgaria, Latvia, Spain
Background
Conflicts are a natural part of life and youth work, but they are often seen as negative. The organization YOUnique z.s. from the Czech Republic believes conflicts can become opportunities for learning, growth, and transformation. After successfully running previous Erasmus+ projects on conflict transformation, such as Butterfly Effect and Stories of Transformation, the team wanted to go deeper.
The project Water to the Moon was created to help youth workers understand and use conflicts as a positive force in their communities through new and creative methods.
Objectives
The project aimed to give youth workers new skills to handle conflicts constructively. It focused on two main tools: storytelling and embodiment. Through these methods, participants learned to express emotions, understand others, and communicate effectively during disagreements.
The project also promoted empathy, inclusion, and cooperation in multicultural settings, encouraging participants to become confident facilitators of peaceful dialogue.
Implementation
The main activity of the project took place in Statek Habri, a peaceful venue in the Czech Republic known for hosting educational programmes. The project gathered 27 youth workers and 3 trainers from seven European countries.
Before the in-person activity, participants joined online sessions to prepare, share expectations, and learn about the project’s approach. After the training, they continued with follow-up activities in their local communities, applying what they learned in real situations.
Key Activities
Participants experienced workshops combining storytelling, movement, and body awareness. Through practical exercises, they explored how emotions and body language affect communication.
They learned Non-Violent Communication techniques, practiced reflection, and used storytelling as a tool to connect across cultures. Embodiment sessions helped them recognize emotional patterns and develop empathy, resilience, and creativity.
Results
The training empowered youth workers to address conflicts with confidence and openness. They became more capable of creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people to express themselves.
Participating organizations strengthened their networks and gained new, conflict-sensitive approaches that can be used in future projects. The materials created during the project — photos, videos, and booklets — will continue to support learning and dissemination.
Impact
The project had a strong personal and professional impact. Youth workers gained emotional agility, better communication skills, and tools to turn conflicts into learning opportunities.
On a community level, the project helped reduce prejudice, build empathy, and encourage social inclusion — especially among marginalized youth. By sharing knowledge and results, Water to the Moon contributes to improving the quality of youth work across Europe.
