By Irina Mikava, Civic Education Teacher, trainer, Team member of ProActive Group Georg

Young people from different municipalities, including Bolnisi, Tsalenjikha, and Tbilisi, were introduced to the concept of the Living Library method and its significance in the context of memory culture. The participants found the recommendations on organizing a Living Library intriguing. It emphasized the importance of defining initial goals, preparing and planning activities, selecting thematic elements for narratives, choosing „living books“ for the event, promoting the event, and conducting it successfully.

During the theoretical sessions, we explained the concept of a „living book“ to the participants, discussing the positive aspects of taking on a role and providing guidelines and tips. We explored the purpose behind telling stories, what we aim to achieve, and why we share our stories. Initially, some participants seemed hesitant, but as we introduced them to other people’s stories, encouraging them to share and communicate, they became more open and engaged.

Through the training, participants learned the structure of storytelling, including the introduction, main part, and conclusion. They discovered the significance of having an initial state, complications, and solutions in a story. The best way for them to grasp these concepts was through listening to practical stories and engaging in simulation tasks where they could honestly share their own stories and motivate others.

In addition to in-person meetings, we also conducted online sessions to ensure the participation of individuals from Bolnisi, Tbilisi, and Tsalenjikha, including young people and teachers. The online platform facilitated cross-cultural dialogue, enabling individuals from different regions to connect and exchange ideas. This inclusive approach was exemplified by Giorgi Agirbaya, who navigated his way from Abkhazia to create a successful non-governmental organization.“

Living Library in practice

The experience of listening to different stories is profoundly emotional, especially when hearing from individuals who have lost everything, endured the most challenging journeys, and faced the pain of losing family members, yet continue to fight and persevere. The „Living Books“ participants exemplified the significance of the knowledge gained from the workshop through their authentic stories, which the other participants listened to with keen interest, leading to engaging discussions. Each young person found great motivation in these stories, reinforcing the belief that every person’s unique narrative serves as a catalyst for another’s successful path.

During the sessions, participants had the opportunity to hear firsthand accounts of journeys from Abkhazia to the USA, witnessing how success stories emerged from the backdrop of immense challenges and socio-economic issues in Sokhumi. People of various ages gathered together, listening and empathizing with one another, transcending the barriers of war and conflict. It became evident that their shared quest for peace outweighed the adversity they had faced.

Challenges, Achievements and Future Goals ?

One of the main challenges we faced was initiating the sharing of emotions, stories, and desires. Narrating and sharing personal experiences can be a difficult task that requires individuals to trust and feel comfortable opening up.

However, the main achievement lies in the interest that followed the teaching and subsequent use of this method. The representatives of our target group have successfully employed this method in various educational settings, such as schools, youth clubs, and centers. Through their efforts, we have encountered individuals with unique stories that have become sources of motivation for many people.

To this day, we maintain ongoing communication and provide opportunities for the participants of our project. They, in turn, continue to create new opportunities for others by instilling a culture of remembrance and respect.

Looking ahead, our future goals include expanding the reach of this project, reaching more individuals and communities.By nurturing a culture of remembrance and respect, we strive to create a society where stories are valued and where the voices of all individuals are heard and acknowledged.

After the interactive training sessions in Passau, Germany, my colleague and I had the opportunity to organize and implement several methods taught during the sessions at the local level. The main objective of these activities was to build mutual understanding and support the peace movement among young and old people by using innovative methods such as “Oral History”, “Living Library”, and “Suitcase of My Life”.

The “Oral History” activity was designed to provide participants with an opportunity to hear directly from people affected by the conflict. Before the training session, we had the testimonies of the conflict-affected people in a video format, which included details about how the conflict shaped their lives and their families, personal experiences, and their hopes and messages for peace. During the training session, the trainer explained what the project aimed to achieve, the culture of remembrance, the oral history method, and how to prepare interview questions, deal with conflict-affected people, and storytelling. After watching the videos, the trainer led discussions based on guiding questions to build up to the conclusion on how to support the peace movement and build mutual understanding through young people. A total of 18 participants took part in this activity, and they expressed their positive impressions, stating that they learned about the personal experiences of people and their lives before the conflict, as well as the culture of remembrance, and how it can be effective in the peace movement.

The “Living Library” activity was designed to provide participants with an opportunity to ask questions and engage with people who lived in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan before the war started in 1992. I started by explaining the project’s objectives, the culture of remembrance, and the oral history method. The two living books shared their memories, and participants asked them questions about their personal experiences and their thoughts on the future of the issue. Then me and my colleague Ramin led discussions on what the students learned about the living books, the most interesting part, what was new for them, and whether they would participate in the living library activity again. 11 young people participated in this activity, and they expressed their desire to participate in such events more frequently.

The “Suitcase of My Life” life activity was the most challenging and required more preparation. We worked with a local youth NGO called “Great Return”, which works largely with conflict-affected people. With their support, we were able to engage participants from an older generation, which is difficult due to their lack of interest and awareness of intergenerational activities. We announced an open call for young people interested in participating in such initiatives. The activity was divided into three main parts: an introductory workshop, a preparatory meeting, and a final meeting. In the introductory workshop, participants learned about the suitcase of my life method, its importance, and the steps required to implement such an activity, as well as information about donors, partners, project activities, and objectives. In the preparatory meeting, participants got familiar with the idea of tandem creation, working in pairs, and creativity workshops. In the final meeting, with the involvement of young and old people, tandems were completed and ready for display. A total of 30 participants took part in this activity, and 21 of them were young people who expressed their appreciation for the activity’s unique combination of art, creativity, and real-life experiences.

Overall, my experience with the local activities was insightful and challenging. Working with the conflict-affected people and engaging young and old individuals in innovative activities required patience, creativity, and a deep understanding of the local context. However, the positive feedback and interest from the participants and the local community showed that these activities were successful in building mutual understanding and supporting the peace movement. My message to others is to continue organizing such activities, build partnerships with local NGOs, and engage young and old people in meaningful and creative ways.

In December, 2022 – January, 2023, I had the opportunity to organize training sessions and workshops on cultural remembrance, mutual understanding and tolerance. Working with the Azerbaijani team, we were able to invite both youth and elders from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, many of whom had been living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Baku or other cities in Azerbaijan for the past 30 years due to the conflict.

Our local activities consisted of various workshops and events, including the „Suitcase of My Life“ event, where we invited both youth and elders to share their experiences and thoughts about conflicts in their lives. We also organized energizers and workshops using new methods, which many of the participants found surprisingly effective and vowed to use in their future events.

One of the most challenging parts of the process was shooting a PSA video about the life and challenges of IDPs from the first Karabakh War. We interviewed the wife of a former martyr, and some of the questions we had to ask her were very sensitive, which made it difficult to listen to her answers. Nevertheless, the video was published on our website, and I invite you all to watch it.

Overall, I consider this experience a success as it was able to promote peace education and conflict management in the region. By teaching and learning these important methods, we can strive towards a more peaceful world.

My overall experience with the local activities was very rewarding. It was a great opportunity for me to work with the local audience, especially the IDPs who have been affected by the conflict for so many years. It was very inspiring to see their resilience and their willingness to learn about peace education and conflict management.

My message to everyone is that peace education is a lifelong learning process, and it requires the participation and commitment of individuals, institutions, and societies as a whole. We can all contribute to building a culture of peace in our communities, no matter how small our actions may seem. Through dialogue, understanding, and cooperation, we can create a world where conflicts are resolved peacefully, and people can live together harmoniously, respecting each other’s differences and working towards common goals.

I would also like to thank the organizers of the program for giving me this opportunity to learn and share my knowledge and experience with others. I hope that this program will continue to inspire and empower young people to work towards building a more peaceful and just world.