Talk Together
What’s the idea?
Talk Together takes young people from either side of an ongoing conflict and challenges them to generate new ways forward. The project confronts prejudice, fosters understanding, finds new possible solutions, stimulates wider public debate and gives the participants the educational experience of a lifetime.
How does it work?
Participants get to know each other during their all-expenses-paid stay at a safe retreat, where they collaborate with peers from neutral countries. The groups work together to develop their negotiation skills and learn about the background to the geo-political dispute affecting their lives. They play non-contact sport and enjoy cultural and social activities.
Then what?
After a demanding and fun fortnight’s stay, the young people present their ideas to political leaders, and then return home to share their new perspectives, skills and ideas.
To stimulate wider public debate, a fly-on-the-wall film tracks the whole process. An empathetic reality TV approach engages the audience in the human drama experienced by the young participants. This attracts viewers usually uninterested in the underlying political issues.
A schools’ version of the film focuses on the soft skills learned during the course, including deal making, conflict management, lateral thinking, leadership, team building and presentation.
Learn more about Talk Together 2009 Activity Programme
And going forward?
The youth exchange programme is repeated biennially, taking young people from conflict situations across the world.
