Call for participants: World House Program
World House Program
Rondine Cittadella della Pace, Italy
2025 – Call for participants
Deadline: January 12, 2025
Rondine Cittadella della Pace
Rondine Cittadella della Pace is an organization dedicated to reducing armed conflicts worldwide. With the goal of contributing to a world free from wars, Rondine disseminates its own methodology for creatively transforming conflicts in various contexts. This translates into the concrete objective of equipping individuals with the necessary tools to manage conflicts effectively.
The “Cittadella della Pace” (Citadel of Peace) is situated in Rondine, a medieval village in Tuscany, located a few kilometres away from Arezzo, Italy. It is within Rondine that the primary educational projects are developed, providing a dual opportunity to participants: the regeneration of the inner selves and the enhancement of leadership skills. These skills are intended to benefit both the individuals themselves and their communities, working towards the greater good.
The mission of Rondine Cittadella della Pace can thus be summarized:
Promote the creative transformation of conflicts through the experience of young people who discover the human being in their enemy.
Rondine bases its educational programs and activities on the method for creative conflict transformation, the Rondine Method – the relational approach to conflict, encompassing the practices derived from two decades of psycho-pedagogical research, academically validated1. It is structured around the discovery of the “enemy” as a deception that hinders communication and reciprocal compassion. The Method proposes a model of interpersonal relationships applicable to all contexts, where the word “enemy” has a symbolic connotation, and conflict is not seen as necessarily negative, but as a generative opportunity. To put this vision into practice, Rondine finalizes training to create professionally prepared and humanly motivated youth to enact positive changes in their own communities.
Over the years, the association has entered into agreements and conventions with numerous Italian institutions, and collaborates with Italian and international universities. Since 2021, Rondine has been granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The World House
The vision of Rondine revolves around the World House, which has been welcoming young adults from war-torn countries or post-conflict situations since 1997. These young people undertake a transformative educational journey centred on recognizing the humanity in their enemies. They are guided on a transformative educational journey that involves discovering the human being in their enemy through the establishment of entirely new relationships with members from the opposing side, in a broader intercultural and interreligious environment. It is a challenging and surprising educational experience: a structured daily cohabitation within a comprehensive program that includes training (academic and non-formal), and civic engagement activities.
Through the academic and the experience-based journey that includes lessons, workshops, events, volunteering activities, and community engagement, the program seeks to:
1) Engage in the creative conflict transformation following the Rondine Method;
2) Educate young individuals prepared to engage in constructive dialogue with the youth from the other side of the conflict, and share experiences;
3) Promote the development of initiatives having a positive impact within fellows’ communities;
4) Empower young peace leaders, encouraging them to contribute meaningfully to positive change and societal development.
In addition, fellows benefit from the many informal social and cultural activities that Rondine has to offer with volunteers and participants to other programs run by the association.
The World House is an 18-month fellowship program – starting with a 3-month inception phase online and 15 months on campus, in Italy. Later, Rondine will select committed students for an additional 6-month training aimed at project development and local impact (under specific conditions, see “The Social Impact Semester” section).
More information: Balkans_Rondine_Call for participants 2025_january
How to apply
Please submit the following documents to apply@rondine.org (orinternational.rondine@gmail.com)
- Application form (here attached);
- Passport (valid at least until December 2026);
- Motivation letter;
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume;
- Copy of the last academic diploma earned;
- Rondine Project Proposal Form (here attached);
- Recommendation letter (one or more);
- Notice on personal data protection (hand-signed; here attached)
The deadline for application is January 12, 2025
Questions?
Please visit https://callforparticipants.rondine.org/ – FAQ section. For additional information, send your questions to apply@rondine.org.
