What if tourism could do more than create memories — what if it could build peace?
Welcome to Paths to Peace (P2P) — a bold new Erasmus+ project that puts young people at the heart of peacebuilding through tourism. Launched in 2024, the project is a response to one of the most urgent questions of our time: How can we help young people take meaningful action in divided communities, conflict-affected regions, and a polarised Europe?
Why This Project, Why Now?
Across Europe, young people are navigating growing divides — from the impacts of war to the rise of social tensions. At the same time, tourism remains a powerful force for connecting people, preserving culture, and creating shared understanding. But too often, youth are excluded from shaping how tourism is used for social good.
Paths to Peace was funded to change that. Supported by the Erasmus+ Programme, the project recognises that youth are not just future leaders — they are leaders now. And with the right tools, they can design and lead tourism-based initiatives that actively promote peace.
What Needs Does P2P Address?
- A lack of structured pathways for youth to engage in peacebuilding through tourism
- Insufficient training for youth workers and educators in how to support these efforts
- Missed opportunities to connect tourism with inclusion, social cohesion, and conflict transformation
- Limited visibility of inspiring, youth-led peace initiatives that already exist
What Will the Project Do?
Paths to Peace unfolds through a powerful set of activities designed to build knowledge, confidence, and connection:
🧭 Global Peace Perspectives (WP2)
We’ll gather insights from 200+ young people and stakeholders across Europe to identify what skills, gaps, and opportunities exist in tourism-based peacebuilding. This research will form the Global Peace Perspectives Roadmap — a strategic resource for youth and educators.
💡 Practical Paths to Peace (WP3)
Through four hybrid workshops and a dedicated mentorship programme, 60+ young Peace Building Advocates will be trained in intercultural dialogue, conflict-sensitive tourism, community engagement, and digital storytelling.
🚀 Path to Peace Proposals & Hackathon (WP4)
10 youth teams will co-create real-world proposals for tourism-based peace initiatives and pitch them to 100+ stakeholders at our international Hackathon — building partnerships and opening doors for implementation.
📣 Dissemination & Growth (WP5)
We’ll grow a network of Peace Building Advocates, share learning through digital channels, and ensure the project's impact continues long after it ends.
What Impact Will It Have?
Paths to Peace will:
- Train over 60 youth advocates in practical peacebuilding and leadership
- Reach 10,000+ people online with its tools and resources
- Create a lasting network of Peace Building Advocates across Europe
- Connect young people with mentors, educators, and stakeholders ready to support their ideas
- Spark new partnerships that carry youth-led peace projects forward into communities
Who’s Behind It?
This powerful consortium brings together expertise in peacebuilding, tourism, youth training, and digital education:
- Swedish Tourism Innovation Centre (STIC) – Tourism innovation and stakeholder engagement
- Hub Nicosia – Youth work and intercultural education
- International Institute for Peace (IIP) – Peace research and strategic frameworks
- European E-learning Institute (EUEI) – Digital education and inclusion
- Momentum – Dissemination, learning design, and creative communication
- Building Ukraine Together (BUR) – Youth mobilisation and post-conflict community work
🌟 Follow us on our journey as we turn ideas into action, tourism into transformation, and young people into peacebuilders. Paths to Peace is not just a project — it’s a movement.