On August 9, 2025, a local seminar titled “Hearing Everyone: Stories, Emotions, Dialogue” was held at the Youth Center “KOROBKA” in Trostyanets, Sumy region. The event gathered 10 young participants, including 3 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and used the method of forum theatre to explore themes of identity, resilience, and empathy.
The session was facilitated by Mariia Slabospytska, participant of the Stronger Together training course in Moldova. Preparations included organizing a safe and creative space, selecting audiovisual materials, and preparing a scenario for the forum theatre activity.
The program featured several components:
- Icebreakers and energizers to create a relaxed atmosphere.
- A short introduction to the SYWOR project and its objectives.
- A theoretical block explaining the concepts of refugees, internally displaced persons, and people affected by war.
- The main forum theatre session, where participants engaged in interactive role play to analyze social issues and seek collective solutions.
- Debriefing and reflection circle, with space to share insights and personal impressions.
- Feedback collection to evaluate the event’s impact.
For most participants, this was the first time experiencing forum theatre. They highlighted that the interactive approach helped them not only learn about the distinctions between refugees, IDPs, and war-affected people, but also reflect on the challenges these groups face in everyday life. Many emphasized that the seminar deepened their empathy and encouraged them to listen to others’ stories with greater openness.
This local initiative in Trostyanets reflects the core goals of the SYWOR project — strengthening youth workers, organisations and supporting the integration of displaced young people.
About the Project
The course was part of the SYWOR project, implemented by Young Agents of Change in collaboration with:
- Georgian Youth Development Association – GYDA (Georgia)
- European Integration Group (Turkey)
- MilleniuM Training and Development Institute (Moldova)
- Fundacja Nowy Staw (Poland)
The project is funded by the European Union and aims to strengthen youth workers and organizations involved in supporting displaced young people through capacity building and cross-border collaboration.
