After our in-depth session at ZIF, where we explored the institutional and policy-driven dimensions of peace operations, our next stop took us into a very different setting — one that emphasized experiential learning, creativity, and direct civic engagement. We visited CRISP – Crisis Simulation for Peace e.V., a Berlin-based organisation that uses role-play and simulation games as powerful tools for peace education and conflict transformation.
About CRISP e.V.
Photos: Maryna Bykova
CRISP e.V. operates under the premise that conflict is not an anomaly, but a natural human condition, and that learning to engage with conflict constructively is a vital civic skill. Their simulation-based learning model immerses participants in interactive, scenario-driven environments that mirror real-world political and social dynamics. Participants assume stakeholder roles within complex, often contentious situations ranging from post-conflict governance and disinformation to civic participation and political polarization.
What distinguishes CRISP’s approach is not only the interdisciplinary relevance of its topics but also the adaptability of its materials to diverse cultural and regional contexts. Their method has been successfully applied across African, Middle Eastern, and European settings, demonstrating the flexibility of simulation as a pedagogical tool for peacebuilding and civic engagement.
CRISP’s approach is grounded in the belief that people learn best when they are active participants in the process. Their simulation games are not just theoretical exercises: they immerse participants in complex political or social scenarios where they must take on different roles, negotiate competing interests, and navigate conflict from within.
The topics of simulation CRISP runs range from migration, post-conflict reconstruction, and elections, to disinformation, political polarisation, and digital security. Each simulation is designed to be context-sensitive and adaptable to different cultural and regional realities, making it a valuable resource for educators, youth workers, and civil society actors alike.
What stood out during our visit was CRISP’s ability to bridge structured learning with real-world relevance. Their recent work has expanded to include street-level interventions and public-facing dialogue formats — bringing peace education out of the classroom and into everyday urban life.
Photo: CGE Erfurt e.V.
Facilitation process
During our session, Mohamed Najib Rahmi, Project Coordinator at CRISP and an experienced facilitator working extensively across Francophone Africa, led a compelling discussion on the core principles of CRISP’s methodology. He detailed how simulations are designed—from stakeholder mapping and contextual scenario building to role assignment and structured debriefings.
Particular attention was paid to the facilitation process, a critical component in ensuring simulations remain inclusive, non-hierarchical, and emotionally safe. Participants reflected on challenges such as managing political diversity within groups, balancing realism with psychological safety, and fostering genuine empathy without simplifying real-world complexities.
Several key questions emerged:
- How can facilitators navigate emotionally charged environments while preserving psychological safety?
- What preparatory steps ensure that role-play deepens understanding without reinforcing stereotypes?
- How can simulations remain both relevant and respectful, especially in conflict-affected communities?
CRISP staff emphasized the importance of deep debriefing, where much of the actual learning happens. What we take from it the following:
It’s not just about the simulation itself. It’s about helping people process what happened — what they felt, what surprised them, what it made them question.
Empowerment against disinformation
A highlight of the visit was the opportunity to meet Kateryna Pavlova, CRISP’s Chief Operating Officer, who introduced her inspiring work on the project “German-Ukrainian Dialogue – Fostering Democratic Exchange“. In response to growing disinformation and polarisation, the initiative brings together Ukrainian newcomers and German residents in informal settings such as cafés, sports clubs, and public events. By training dialogue moderators from both communities, the project creates space for respectful conversations that challenge myths, build trust, and promote social cohesion. Reaching beyond traditional civic spaces, it exemplifies the power of grassroots dialogue in strengthening democratic engagement – a message that strongly resonated with many participants.
Photo: Maryna Bykova
Reflection
What became evident throughout the visit is that peace education, to be effective, must also be experiential, imaginative, and relational. CRISP’s approach exemplifies a bottom-up peacebuilding methodology grounded in participatory learning, dialogue facilitation, and empathy-building exercises. In contrast to more technocratic or institutional frameworks, this model emphasizes relational transformation over procedural mandates, offering learners not only knowledge but lived, emotional insight.
The study visit affirmed that fostering peace is not simply about conveying information; it is about creating spaces for encounter, where participants are invited to rehearse new ways of being in community—even amid conflict.
The study visit was conducted together with the “Shared Space, Shared Future: A Multi-Level Approach to Youth-Led Reconciliation and Social Cohesion” conference, which was part of The Missing Peace project, co-funded by the European Union through Leargas – Irish National Agency (Project number: 2022-2-IE01-KA220-YOU-000096690).
