War(s) in Europe. Shared experience, collective memory? A toolbox with methods tested in Germany, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Berlin: Franco-German Youth Office (FGYO); Stiftung Erinnerung, Verantwortung und Zukunft (EVZ Foundation) (2024), 56 pp.
CC BY-NC
"Whether as a central theme or a reflection on current events, the issue of war is very important in international youth exchanges. This publication aims to provide guidance on how to talk about war in such contexts. Key questions that have been examined include the occurrence of past and current wars in international youth exchanges and the impact of war on the history and identity of young participants. The methods described in this handbook were purposefully developed during an expert exchange and tested during a youth exchange across five cities standing for significant military conflicts in Europe in the 20th century: Paris, Munich, Vienna, Zagreb, and Sarajevo. Young participants aged 18 to 24 from France, Germany, and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part in this exchange, testing the methods, and discovering the implications of the topic of war. Rather than a mere transfer of knowledge, these methods offer ways to tackle the topic of “War” in a youth exchange.
Primarily intended for youth workers, teachers, associations, and organisations in France, Germany and beyond, this publication is suitable for those grappling with the issue due to current events or the personal history of a participant. It serves as a guide for addressing the theme of war during intercultural exchanges. Nevertheless the toolbox presents different types of methods to accompany a youth exchange or to choose an activity according to the desired objective: cooperative activities, group dynamics, language activities, physical expression, meetings with witnesses and guided tours.
Considerations regarding participants: it is advisable, though not mandatory, for participants in the youth exchange to have an interest in and a basic knowledge of the history and remembrance of wars. This is particularly important because some wars are more recent, and being in historical places or using certain methods to discuss them can be triggering and evoke strong emotions. Personal biographies may come up unexpectedly during the exchange, fostering connections with history. It is also crucial for facilitators to be aware of these sensitivities and react appropriately." (About this publication, page 4)
Primarily intended for youth workers, teachers, associations, and organisations in France, Germany and beyond, this publication is suitable for those grappling with the issue due to current events or the personal history of a participant. It serves as a guide for addressing the theme of war during intercultural exchanges. Nevertheless the toolbox presents different types of methods to accompany a youth exchange or to choose an activity according to the desired objective: cooperative activities, group dynamics, language activities, physical expression, meetings with witnesses and guided tours.
Considerations regarding participants: it is advisable, though not mandatory, for participants in the youth exchange to have an interest in and a basic knowledge of the history and remembrance of wars. This is particularly important because some wars are more recent, and being in historical places or using certain methods to discuss them can be triggering and evoke strong emotions. Personal biographies may come up unexpectedly during the exchange, fostering connections with history. It is also crucial for facilitators to be aware of these sensitivities and react appropriately." (About this publication, page 4)
