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Hard Topics – Fostering Dialogue in a Polarised World
Hard Topics – Fostering Dialogue in a Polarised World
Contenu
This activity highlights how digital tools and youth work practices can create safe spaces for open dialogue, reduce polarisation, and build stronger communities grounded in shared values.
By completing this activity, you will:
- Understand the importance of dialogue in overcoming polarisation among (young) people.
- Explore the Hard Topics App and other free tools for fostering conversations between individuals with differing views.
- Reflect on how you can integrate dialogue methods into your personal, professional, or organisational context.
Get Inspired
Why dialogue? In a world where social polarisation is increasing, creating spaces for young people to share perspectives respectfully has never been more important. Dialogue builds trust, reduces fear, and encourages curiosity instead of conflict.
The Hard Topics App connects people with opposing views, turning disagreement into a chance for learning and aims to empower young people and youth workers through dialogue, training, and innovative tools.
Take action: activities for different roles
Explore the role-specific badges below to access tasks that guide reflection and practice in dialogue work:
- Young people can use the Hard Topics App and dialogue tools to reflect on their own perspectives, learn how to listen respectfully to different opinions, and practice constructive conversations in safe settings. By engaging with the tools, they can discover new ways to connect with peers across differences and strengthen their confidence in addressing “hard topics” in everyday life, school, or online spaces.
- Youth workers can integrate the Hard Topics resources into workshops, mentoring sessions, and group activities. They can use the app to structure meaningful conversations, apply dialogue methods in their daily practice, and create supportive environments where young people feel safe to share differing views. This helps reduce polarisation and empowers youth to build empathy and critical thinking skills.
- Youth organisations and managers can use the Hard Topics recommendations to develop long-term strategies for dialogue-based youth work. This includes embedding dialogue methods into programmes, policies, and organisational culture, supporting their staff with training, and building partnerships with other organisations in the Dialogue Network. By doing so, they strengthen their capacity to address polarisation systematically and promote shared values across communities.
Suggested follow up activities
- Host a Dialogue Café: Organise a safe and structured dialogue event where young people with different perspectives can meet and discuss “hard topics.” Use the Hard Topics App to guide conversations and ensure everyone has space to share and listen.
- Run a Dialogue Skills Exchange: Invite peers, youth workers, or community members to share practical methods for constructive dialogue — from active listening to non-violent communication. Match these skills with the needs identified in your group and practice them together.
- Organise a “Bridging Differences” Meetup: Bring together young people, educators, and community leaders to explore how dialogue can address polarisation in schools, communities, or online spaces. Use the Hard Topics toolkit as a framework, and invite guest speakers or facilitators experienced in mediation and dialogue.
- Join the Dialogue Network: A international community of individuals and organisations committed to dialogue, where you can join online meetings, share dialogue-related knowledge, skills, and tools, discover best practices in dialogue, showcase your work and connect with credible partners for your next project.
Claim Open Badge Recognition
After completing this activity, you can earn digital badges that recognise your progress in:
- Dialogue skills and the ability to engage respectfully across differences
- Awareness of tools and methods that reduce polarisation in youth settings
- Commitment to fostering inclusive, safe, and meaningful conversations
Who created this resource?
This activity is based on the Hard Topics project, co-developed by Socialna akademija (Slovenia), IniciativAngola (Austria), KatHAZ (Hungary), and Documenta (Croatia) as part of a European Erasmus+ initiative to strengthen dialogue and reduce social polarisation among young people. The project has created innovative tools such as the Hard Topics App, dialogue training methods, a handbook, and a blog to support youth workers, educators, and organisations in fostering constructive discussions on sensitive social and political issues.
The Digital Systemic partnership and the Cities of Learning Network use these resources to create this activity, aiming to promote inclusive dialogue, empower young people with critical conversation skills, and showcase quality European educational resources that respond to the challenges of polarisation in youth work.
Next steps: Deepen your learning by creating your own dialogue scenarios based on real-life challenges in your community or youth work practice. Try integrating the Hard Topics App into workshops or training programmes to spark meaningful conversations across different perspectives. You can also use this activity as inspiration to design your own dialogue-based tools or online resources that youth organisations worldwide could adapt to strengthen democratic participation and reduce polarisation.
Get activity badge
Dialogue Builder Get this badge
This badge is awarded to anyone — youth, youth workers, or managers — who actively engages in exploring dialogue as a tool for connection and inclusion via Hard Topic digital app. It highlights your commitment to respectful conversation and reducing polarisation in everyday life or work.
Vous devez terminer au moins 2 tâches pour obtenir ce badge
Tâches
Tâche n°1
Preuve vérifiée par : un organisateur de l'activité
Reflect on a key learning or “aha moment” from using the Hard Topics resources and share how it applies to your role or context.
Tâche n°2
Preuve vérifiée par : un organisateur de l'activité
Identify one personal or professional action you can take to support dialogue in your community or workplace.
Tâche n°3
Preuve vérifiée par : un organisateur de l'activité
Describe what respectful, inclusive dialogue means to you and why it matters in today’s world.
Organisateurs
Digital Youth Work Resource Hub
Badgecraft héberge et développe cette plateforme avec les principaux organismes d'éducation. La première version de cette plateforme a été cofinancée par Erasmus +, programme de l'Union européenne. Contactez-nous à : support@badgecraft.eu .
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