On 28 February 2025, the Centre of Active Citizens for Sustainable Development (CiACT) piloted the Conflict Pyramid tool with 35 students at the Lyceum of Akropolis in Nicosia, during a special school event dedicated to EU values and active citizenship. Over the course of five hours, participants explored how conflicts emerge, what lies beneath them, and how young people can contribute to more peaceful ways of living together.
The workshop opened with a thought-provoking presentation on “War and Peace” delivered by an academic professor specialising in the field. This input provided historical and conceptual context, highlighting how conflicts are rarely random and often connected to deeper structures, interests and fears. Building on this foundation, CiACT facilitators then introduced a set of interactive activities designed to translate these big ideas into something young people could recognise in their own lives.
Working with the Conflict Pyramid
After a short introduction, students were divided into small groups of around five and introduced to the Conflict Pyramid diagram. The facilitator explained how a conflict can be visualised in layers: starting from the visible situation at the top, and moving down into the less visible components, such as feelings, assumptions, interests and needs, that often drive the behaviour we see on the surface.
Each group then brainstormed real or realistic conflicts, drawing on situations they might encounter in school, friendship groups, families or communities. From this, they drafted one conflict example per group, describing what happened and who was involved. These conflict descriptions were then randomly distributed to other groups, so that each team worked with a scenario they had not created themselves.
Using the Conflict Pyramid, students analysed the scenario they received. They discussed questions such as:
- What is the visible conflict or event?
- What consequences might this lead to – for individuals, relationships, or the wider group?
- What could be the underlying causes, needs or fears that are not immediately visible?
As they completed their diagrams, participants began to see how conflict is rarely “just” about a single incident. Instead, they identified patterns of miscommunication, unmet needs, perceived injustice and lack of recognition beneath the surface.
Once the pyramids were filled in, each group presented their analysis and proposed solutions to the rest of the participants. This final step allowed them not only to unpack the conflict, but also to imagine constructive ways forward.
Evaluation: How Did It Feel?
CiACT chose an interactive, discussion-based evaluation, keeping the atmosphere positive and informal while still gathering meaningful feedback.
In the first phase, participants were asked to share one word describing how they felt about the workshop. Responses such as “engaged”, “interested”, and “happy” reflected both emotional involvement and enjoyment of the process.
In the second phase, students were invited to raise their hands if they agreed with a series of statements:
- “I learned more about conflict resolution today.”
- “I really liked the workshop.”
- “I believe that peacebuilding is important among young people.”
The strong response to these questions showed that the session had resonated with the group. Students not only felt they had learned something new, but also recognised the importance of peacebuilding as part of their role as active citizens, both in Cyprus and as young Europeans.
Why This Piloting Matters
The piloting of the Conflict Pyramid at Lyceum of Akropolis demonstrated how a simple visual tool can open up complex conversations. By moving from concrete examples to underlying causes and then to possible solutions, students were encouraged to:
- think critically about conflict rather than seeing it as inevitable;
- develop greater empathy for the different parties involved;
- understand conflict as part of broader systems and relationships;
- and see themselves as capable of contributing to more peaceful, fair and respectful environments.
Set within a wider event on EU values and active citizenship, the workshop offered a practical demonstration of what those values look like in everyday life: listening, reflecting, taking responsibility and seeking solutions rather than blame.
“The Missing Peace” project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Program (Pr. Nr.: KA220-YOU-055CD22D).
Reference:
- The Missing Peace – WP4.A3. – Piloting reports.
- Hakvoort, I. (2011). The conflict pyramid: A holistic approach to structuring conflict resolution in schools. International Journal of Conflict and Violence, 5(1), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.1764
- Lederach, J. P. (1997). Building peace: Sustainable reconciliation in divided societies. United States Institute of Peace Press.
- Save the Children. (2015). Conflict Management and Peace Building in Everyday Life: A Resource Kit for Children and Youth. MHPSS and EiE Toolkit.