A youth reflection piece by Ghaith Dhia Hadi Alghaffari on their participation at the University on Youth and Development (UYD) Training
The UYD 2025 course focused on Digital Safety within the broader theme of Interfaith, Intercultural, and Interreligious Dialogue, as well as creating safe spaces. This theme is deeply connected to my work in Iraq, where I engage with five different religions and communities of diverse faiths, cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities. The course provided a framework to link dialogue with digital safety, offering new perspectives on how to foster understanding while ensuring protection for vulnerable groups.
The most valuable takeaway was learning how to practically utilize Digital Safety in our work. Implementing these tools and approaches will significantly improve outcomes by enhancing secure environments for the vulnerable people we support. This is particularly relevant in the P/CVE context in our region, where religion, faith, and culture often serve as triggers for violence. Integrating digital safety into dialogue initiatives allows us to protect participants, build trust, and ensure that engagement is both inclusive and sustainable.
One of the most memorable moments was the visit to the historical city of Córdoba. Walking through a city where interreligious communities and civilizations once thrived together, while preserving their unique heritage, was a powerful reminder of the possibilities of coexistence. It offered a living example of the values we aim to promote through dialogue in our own contexts.
For future editions of this training, I would recommend including more voices from diverse backgrounds and faiths across the world, particularly those who have been most affected by violence and whose perspectives are often absent. For example, including minority groups such as the Yezidis would enrich the dialogue and ensure that those most in need of representation are given a space to contribute.
Overall, the UYD 2025 course in Mollina was an inspiring and highly practical experience. It provided not only tools for integrating digital safety into P/CVE efforts but also renewed motivation to continue building safe, inclusive spaces where dialogue can truly counter division and violence.
