MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

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To promote flexible and open concepts of identity, youth associations can develop intercultural
learning training events that focus on the multiple origins of everyone’s identity as
an effective way of promoting flexible concepts of identity. 34 Any other activities (arts, music,
dance) that bring people from different cultural backgrounds together can also be very
effective.
Having an open attitude
Dialogue is very often mentioned as a means of understanding people’s views.
Unfortunately, dialogue does not usually take place with a truly open attitude, so it is
important to emphasise actively listening to the other party, listening from a position
of equality. This requires a predisposition to meet the other, an attitude of sincerity
and good will.
To recognise that every person deserves respect, that everybody has good points, is
an exercise that requires:
respect for people who have divergent ideas; disagreeing with the opinions or
customs of others must not mean deriding or undervaluing the people who
defend them;
trying not to think ill of others, with an attitude that does not interpret their
errors as a result of their perverse nature or their successes as stemming from
external causes or hidden agendas;
self-criticism, being well-disposed towards recognising one’s own errors and
being as critical of oneself as of others;
being content-centred and accepting ideas and proposals from others when
they are good, instead of rejecting them because they are put forward by the
enemy;
the establishment of a relationship based on equality with the other party,
without arrogance or positions of superiority.
What are the causes?
Confrontations may have deep roots. Thinking that “the other is the problem” is to run the
risk of forgetting that the problem has a cause, leading to the sterility of competition
and disqualification of the other party, moving away from the reasons that gave rise
to the conflict. It is important, then, to focus on the ideas that are, or might be, causes
of the conflict.
If relations between members of a youth group are distorted by the ‘image of the enemy’,
it may be useful for both parties, together or separately, to reflect on what might be the
original causes of the confrontation. Trying to agree what are the causes of conflict is an
important step towards measures of rapprochement.
Search for common needs
All sides in a dispute can have common needs, despite the most obvious differences.
Even the bitterest rivals can have similar needs. The need to live in peace in a secure
environment is a good example. Increased social spending instead of military spending
T-Kit No.11 - MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work