We are delighted and proud to announce that the Open Dialogue Foundation has become the Polish partner of the international SAFE: Social Awareness for (War) Experience project, implemented by the CRISP – Crisis Simulation for Peace e.V. organization from Berlin. It is an honor for us to co-create an initiative that connects organizations from several European countries in efforts to support young people affected by war and forced migration.
The SAFE project aims to create safe spaces and tools to support young people who have experienced the consequences of war – both directly and indirectly. As part of this endeavor, an innovative methodology called “Storytelling Rooms” is being developed. These are places where young people can share their stories, emotions, and reflections in an atmosphere of understanding and support. This method helps process difficult experiences, build psychological resilience, and develop empathy, while also serving as an educational tool for educators, pedagogues, and youth leaders.
The project is financed by the Erasmus+ program (KA220-YOU – Cooperation Partnerships in Youth) and will last two years – from September 2024 to August 2026. Its implementation covers four main areas: project management, implementation of “Storytelling Rooms,” development and testing of a toolkit, and publication and dissemination of its results. Our foundation is particularly responsible for implementing activities in Poland – organizing local training for youth workers, conducting “Storytelling Rooms,” co-creating the toolkit’s content, translating it, and disseminating it among institutions and organizations working with youth.
Storytelling Rooms. Photos: Stanislav Kapatsyna
This unique undertaking is particularly needed in Poland. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, our country has hosted the largest number of children and young people from Ukraine among all European Union countries. Many of these young people live today in a new environment, often struggling with trauma, loss of a sense of security, and the need to adapt to new conditions. Supporting them emotionally and socially, as well as equipping teachers, educators, and psychologists with appropriate tools, is not only a challenge but also an obligation for all of us. Thanks to the SAFE project, we can more effectively respond to these needs by providing proven methods and knowledge based on the experiences of international experts.
Representatives of the Open Dialogue Foundation have already participated in two international meetings of the project partners. The first took place in Berlin and took the form of a three-day Training of Trainers, during which participants from five countries – the Czech Republic (People in Need/Člověk v tísni), Hungary (Humanaid Association), Poland (ODF), Romania (Youthfully Inspired), and Ukraine (Ukrainian Volunteer Service) – learned methods of working with youth after war experiences, with a particular focus on a trauma-sensitive approach and narrative methods. The next consortium meeting took place in Prague, where partners jointly analyzed gathered experiences, planned subsequent stages, and discussed how to develop a common toolkit for educators.
We are currently working on implementing the pilot phase of the project in Poland. We are preparing training for local educators and youth workers and adapting the “Storytelling Rooms” methodology to the Polish context. Work is also underway on translating and refining the toolkit, which will help institutions and organizations better respond to the needs of youth with war experience. In the coming months, we will also focus on information activities and promoting the project’s results in Poland to reach the widest possible audience – teachers, psychologists, educators, and social activists.
We are delighted to be part of the SAFE project and contribute to building a more conscious, empathetic, and resilient society. We believe that the joint efforts of partners from across Europe will contribute to real support for young people who – despite difficult war experiences – have the right to a safe, peaceful, and hopeful future.
See also:
- SAFE Project Consortium meets in Prague! (October 18, 2025)
- SAFE Project Launches with Three-Day Training of Trainers in Berlin (April 13, 2025)
Cover photo: crisp-berlin.org
