Not Your Soldier study session

It is under the sunny sky of Budapest that 35 people from all over the world set up home for a week in the European Youth Center, surrounded by trees and a panoramic view of the capital. The study session, organized by SCI, No More War and EBCO, aimed to inform young people and raise awareness about military conscription and conscientious objection through non-formal learning and critical pedagogy.

The week started with introductions and building a safer and more inclusive space so everyone would feel comfortable and welcomed. Participants were then invited to share their personal stories; some talked about their experience in the military, others about their objection to military service.

The next days, militarisation and its roots, the history of conscription and alternative service were discussed, followed by the perspective of the body, which included talks about gender, disability and trauma. The latter were addressed by the participants in a videomaking activity where each group presented their own interpretation of the topic that was assigned to them, some opting for a more artistic rendition, others using humor or even a more serious approach with documentary-style depiction.

As the week progressed, the group reflected on nuance and the challenges of conscientious objection, especially during on-going wars. Afterwards, the participants enjoyed a free afternoon in the city, the perfect opportunity to bond with each other while visiting the beautiful streets and monuments of Budapest. The day ended with a golden sunset that many had the chance to witness alongside the Danube.

The following morning, participants were invited to imagine a utopic world without military service. Conscription and youth politics were tackled through a heated debate between three groups played by the participants: journalists, youth activists and conservative politicians. While fun, this activity almost perfectly represented how real-life debates frequently unfold and how youth activists are often infantilized and brushed off by right-wing politicians.

An open space was then held where anyone had the freedom to present their own topic and participants could join the discussions they were most interested in. Some shared their trauma and their experiences in the military, Jenna held a space to discuss hope while others took a different approach and talked about using humor in political activism with Stavros.

The day ended with an optional movie night where two short movies were presented, Two moons by Abdullah Kokash and The Streets by Pato, one of the participants. The projection was then followed by Momo’s beautiful singing and guitar playing, and improvised dancing by the participants while songs from all corners of the world were played on the speakers.

The following day marked the end of the study session. The last day was an invitation for everyone to think about follow-up projects, whether individual or in groups. The session was closed with lots of emotion and hope for the future.

The week concluded with a goodbye party organized by Sefa and other participants, involving individual and group performances, karaoke, dancing, and all sorts of fun activities. The night ended with writing sweet notes to each other and enjoying the last moments together, a glimmer of hope lingering in the room where it all started.

A big thank you to the Council of Europe and the European Youth Center of Budapest for making it all possible.