Youth Dialogue Lab

Welcome to the first Youth Dialogue Lab in Tallinn

Join the Youth Dialogue Lab 2025 – 2026 to develop your group conversation skills and skills for critical and creative thinking!

In this programme, you will work with other young people and take part in group conversations. You will also attend inspiring training sessions, learn how to facilitate group dialogues, and go on excursions to places of public discussion, like Arvamusfestival.

You will also have the opportunity to organise a round-table dialogue with politicians and directors (of schools, for example) to address issues that are important for you and for the people around you.

In this Lab you will:

• Learn how to express your thoughts and ideas.
• Learn how to analyse topics critically.
• Develop practical skills needed to participate in group conversations.
• Decide together with others on the topics you will discuss.
• Learn how to hold a respectful and interactive group conversation.
• Follow training sessions led by inspiring experts.
• Learn how to organise and facilitate group conversations and dialogues.
• … and more!

A group dialogue is not about winning or losing. The goal is to explore topics together from many different angles.

Practical Issues:

1. You can participate if you are in school years 7–12.
2. The Lab begins in September 2025, with the final presentation taking place in September 2026.
3. We meet once a month in Tallinn.
4. This is an international programme and we welcome students of Estonian, Russian-Estonian or Ukrainian background who live in Tallinn.
5. A basic level of English is required as group conversations will be in both your native languages and English.
6. There is no fee, but once enrolled, you are expected to attend the majority of meetings.

The Youth Dialogue Lab is a collaborative project. You decide together on the conversation rules and the topics to be discussed.

Participating

In August we organise two information sessions and one excursion. During the information sessions you can learn more about the program and ask all the questions you have. The excursion will go to Arvamusfestival, the yearly Opinion Festival in Paide, in the heart of Estonia. (one hour by bus from Tallinn)

• Information session 1: Tuesday 5. August 14:00 – 15:00, Tallinn
• Information session 2: Friday 29. August 12:00 – 13:00, Tallinn
• Excursion to Arvamusfestival: Saturday 9. August, Paide

The information sessions take place at the office of the Estonian Dialogue Academy, address: Telliskivi Creative City, Telliskivi 60a, Building A3, 3rd floor, 10412 Tallinn.

Registration

Use the button to register for the information sessions and the excursion. Registering for the full programme will take place in August.