Youth Theater for Peace

The Youth Theater for Peace program promotes sustainable conflict prevention at the community level through a participatory theater methodology called Drama for Conflict Transformation (DCT).

IREX’s two current programs introduce DCT to teachers and other youth-serving professionals and teenagers (15-16) in rural, conflict-prone areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The programs will ultimately create a group of empowered youth and supportive adults who are equipped to lead community-based conflict resolution activities—sharing DCT techniques and a newfound understanding of those of other ethnicities, religions, and/or nationalities within their larger communities.

Goals

Promote sustainable conflict prevention at the community level by achieving the following objectives:

• Youth-serving professionals develop skills and attitudes to engage youth in Drama for Conflict Transformation.

• A cadre of youth from adversarial groups is mobilized and empowered to share DCT with the larger community.

• Trained program participants institutionalize DCT methodologies in their schools, NGOs, workplaces, and other institutions.

Background

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have large youth populations that are increasingly removed from economic and educational opportunity, have few positive extracurricular outlets, and are at risk of becoming involved in violence. Conflict issues include resource distribution (land and water), regionalism and ethnic tensions, school racketeering, and gender-based violence.

Project Activities

Drama for Conflict Transformation (DCT). DCT incorporates local cultural traditions and starts with simple theater games that break the ice and encourage imagination and play. Once trust is established within the group, the methodology is used to share personal stories about conflict. Participants then develop short plays about real-life conflict issues and perform them in their communities, engaging the audience to be part of the performance and contribute to the resolution. A discussion follows the performance, encouraging dialogue on conflict issues and bringing divided groups into contact.

DCT Training and Summer Camps: Adults and youth are selected on a competitive basis to receive interactive training in DCT—developing plays about actual conflict issues they face and preparing them to perform and engage audiences in diverse communities.

Community Theater Tours: Troupes of youth from neighboring communities take their performances on the road, sparking dialogue about conflict issues and allowing audience members to suggest and test solutions to real problems.

Sustainability Grants: Trained adults and youth are mentored and supported to share DCT skills with others in the community, expanding the base of schools, NGOs, and other institutions using the methodology.