Rethinking prevention, protection and reintegration through families, communities and dialogue.
Every child who is recruited has a story.
A story shaped by relationships. By family. By community. By belonging, or the loss of it.
Across the world, children are being recruited into armed groups, organised crime, gangs, trafficking networks and other forms of violence. While these realities differ from one country to another, they raise many of the same questions.
How can recruitment be prevented before it happens?
What helps families continue holding children under enormous pressure?
How can communities become places of protection?
And when children return, what does reintegration really look like?
These are the questions at the heart of the next Mutual Learning Program.
Beginning in September 2026, professionals, researchers, lived experience community members / leaders, and organisations from across the world will come together for six months of dialogue, reflection and shared learning.
Not because one person has the answers. But because together we may begin to ask better questions.
A global learning community
The Mutual Learning Program is not a traditional online course. It is an international learning community where participants from different countries learn from one another's experiences, research, practice and lived realities.
The coming program explores one of the most urgent challenges facing children today: Child Recruitment & Violence.
Rather than focusing only on crisis response, we explore the entire journey, from prevention to protection and reintegration, while remaining grounded in one central belief: Children are best protected when families and communities are strengthened, not replaced.
What will we explore?
Over four months we will work through three interconnected learning modules.
Module 1 — Collaborative & Dialogic Practices
Before we can co-construct different realities, we first need to learn to listen differently.
Together we explore collaborative and dialogic practices that help professionals, families and communities make sense of complex situations, create meaningful conversations and work across different perspectives.
Module 2 — Prevention of Child Recruitment & Violence
Recruitment rarely begins with the recruiter. It often begins much earlier - in the gradual weakening of relationships, opportunities and support around children.
Together we explore the drivers of recruitment, children's lived experiences, and the crucial role of families, communities and schools in creating protective environments before crises escalate.
Module 3 — Protection & Reintegration
Protection is often understood as removing children from danger. But what happens when protection also means strengthening relationships?
This module explores family- and community-based care, restorative approaches and reintegration as a process of rebuilding belonging, dignity and hope after violence or recruitment.
Throughout the programme you will
- Participate in live dialogue sessions with participants from around the world.
- Learn from international practitioners, researchers and people with lived experience.
- Explore carefully selected articles, videos, podcasts and case studies.
- Exchange experiences through an interactive online learning platform.
- Become part of a growing international community committed to strengthening children, families and communities.
📅 Duration: September – December 2026
🌍 Language: English & Spanish
Who should join?
This programme is designed for anyone working with children, families and communities affected by violence, recruitment or social exclusion, including:
- NGOs and civil society organisations
- Child protection professionals
- Community organisations
- Social workers
- Government professionals
- International Corporation
- Researchers
- Youth workers
- Policy makers
- Students and practitioners interested in family- and community-based care
Whether your work focuses on organised crime, armed conflict, trafficking, youth justice, child protection or community development, you'll find opportunities to connect your own experience with colleagues from across the globe.
Ready to join?
Become part of a growing international community working to strengthen prevention, protection and reintegration through families, communities and collaboration.
→ Register for the Mutual Learning Program here
Want to know more?
Join one of our online information sessions:
- Wednesday, August 26 (13GMT, please convert to your own time zone)
- Tuesday, September 2 (13GMT, please convert to your own time zone)
We'll introduce the programme, answer your questions and look forward to meeting you.