Last month I had the opportunity to take part in the YMCA Europe Roots for Peace Work Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, building on the journey I began in Dresden.

Tbilisi itself was an incredible place to learn and reflect. A city shaped by its own history of conflict and resilience, it provided a powerful backdrop for conversations around peacebuilding. There was something particularly meaningful about engaging in this work in a context where the realities of conflict are not abstract, but lived, reinforcing the importance and urgency of initiatives like this.

Throughout the week, I deepened my understanding of key principles including Do No Harm, conflict analysis, dividers and connectors, the RAFT communication model, and conflict-sensitive project planning. What made the experience especially valuable was the chance to apply these frameworks through practical case studies, bringing the theory to life in real-world contexts.

I’m looking forward to bringing this learning back to YMCA Ireland and into my work on the Shared Agenda for Peace project, strengthening how we approach peacebuilding in practice.

A sincere thank you to YMCA Georgia for hosting, YMCA Europe, and the Roots for Peace team for the invitation and for creating such a meaningful and collaborative learning space.

Daniel Byrne
Youth Worker – Shared Agenda for Peace – YMCA Ireland