🚀From Conflict to Cooperation: A Youth Work Training Experience

On 17–21 November 2025, INEDNET’s member Misha Shakhtanyan had the opportunity to participate in the international training course “Dealing with Conflicts in Youth Work”, held in Utøya, Norway. The activity was organized by the National Agency for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps of Belgium–Flanders, which selected Utøya as the venue for its powerful historical and educational significance.

Utøya is a small island designed to host summer camps, seminars, and diverse learning activities. Beyond its natural beauty and well-equipped facilities, the island carries a deeply tragic history. On 22 July 2011, a far-right extremist attacked the island, taking the lives of 69 people—most of them young participants of the Norwegian Labour Party Youth’s summer camp. The attacker sought to spread hateful narratives claiming that people of different backgrounds cannot coexist and promoted conspiracy theories about Europe’s future.

Today, Utøya stands as a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and the unwavering commitment of young people to democratic values. The island has been transformed into a centre for commemoration and learning, welcoming more than 10,000 young people every year to participate in educational programs, conferences, and youth initiatives. Its mission highlights the importance of tolerance, equality, diversity, and meaningful dialogue—values that must be practiced daily and supported through inclusive spaces for people to meet and engage.

In this meaningful setting, the training course brought together youth workers from across Europe to explore conflict management, peaceful dialogue, and inclusive youth work approaches. By taking part in this program, Misha contributed to the broader mission of strengthening democratic culture and resilience within youth communities.