Growing Up in War: Young People from Syria and Catalonia in Dialogue

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Growing Up in War: Young People from Syria and Catalonia in Dialogue

Summary of Action

This proposal aims to build an educational and communicative bridge between two seemingly distant yet deeply connected realities: that of young people who have grown up in the context of war, armed conflict, exile, and repression in Syria, and that of Catalan youth who, although living in a context of peace, face a reality marked by multiple crises: climate, social, and values-related. Meanwhile, Europe is experiencing a moment shaped by rearmament, fear, and the rise of hate speech and racism, especially against migrants and refugees.

The project seeks to explore how young people grow up in contexts of uncertainty and violence, whether lived directly or experienced structurally, by putting their concerns, experiences, and personal narratives into dialogue. It responds to the urgent need to challenge racism, hate speech, and the stigmatisation of migrants, while offering tools to build a more critical, empathetic, and globally conscious citizenship.

To do so, a group of Catalan youth, involved in local scout groups of Minyons Escoltes i Guies de Catalunya (MEG), and a group of Syrian youth—coordinated by Contrast in collaboration with local media and organisations such as Enab Baladi and the Capital of Peace Initiative—will connect and exchange reflections on the issues that matter to them: human rights, feminism, identity, housing, relationships, racism, peace building, mental health, among others.

These conversations will be the basis for a series of socially engaged journalistic products created by Contrast, to be published across platforms including 3Cat, elDiario.es, and social media channels.

In parallel, MEG will implement an educational proposal with two complementary branches:

• Sensitisation dynamics will be developed so that local scout groups can engage critically and meaningfully with the audiovisual and written outputs, fostering dialogue and reflection among young people.
• Specific educational support will be given to the scout groups directly involved in the exchange, providing context, guidance, and opportunities to deepen their engagement with the themes.

The project follows a process-based approach with three phases:

• Awareness-raising and preparation;
• Exchange and dialogue;
• Return and community action.

This structure is designed to ensure educational impact beyond the core group of participants.

With this action, we aim to contribute to a more responsible, inclusive, and solidarity-based European citizenship—one that recognises and engages in building a fairer, more peaceful, and equitable world. Grounded in the principles of Global Justice Education and Transformative Communication, the project seeks to amplify young voices, challenge dominant narratives, and foster collective transformation through lived experience, critical reflection, and action. We place youth at the center—empowering them to share their concerns, perspectives, and hopes; inspiring other young people involved in youth associations; and generating media content that is compelling and accessible to a global youth audience.

Sustainable Development Goals

This project supports the following SDGs:

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