NECE Lab 2026: Dialogue Skills for Polarized Groups
In today’s world, deep divisions in society make it hard for people to talk and find common ground. The NECE Lab 2026 offers a way to fix that. This event in Warsaw teaches civic educators, activists, and others how to handle tough talks with divided groups.
Event Details
The NECE Lab 2026 takes place from July 12 to 14 in Warsaw, Poland. Its full title is “Working with Polarised Groups in Civic Education.” Organizers focus on real skills, not just ideas. You will learn to plan and grow dialogue projects that bring people together across big differences.
Europe faces growing splits in views on politics and society. These gaps hurt public talks and civic work. The lab shows how to build strong systems for dialogue. This includes picking the right people, new formats, and ways to make talks lead to change.
Key Skills You Will Gain
The program mixes talks from experts, group workshops, and practice sessions. The New Community Foundation shares lessons from over 120 dialogues and 100 workshops in Poland. You will cover these main areas:
- How to set up civic dialogue projects
- Ways to include people with different strong views
- Tips for talking about hot topics without fights
- Running talks online or face-to-face
- Sharing results to create real change
A special part lets you test both online and in-person methods. This helps you adapt to any group or place.
Build Your Own Project
You do not just listen. You work on your own dialogue idea during the lab. Experts and others give feedback to make it better. After the event, pick projects must run a follow-up talk in 3 to 6 months. This spreads skills to more people in your area.
Travel Help Available
Money should not stop you from joining. Selected people from Europe can get up to 500 EUR for travel to and from Warsaw. Apply even if you pay your own way.
Who Runs the Lab
The New Community Foundation leads it with THE CIVICS Innovation Hub. The German Federal Agency for Civic Education funds it. The European Union helps pay as well. These groups bring trust and wide reach.
Apply Now
The deadline is April 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM CEST. Show your drive to start dialogues back home. People in Poland should contact the New Community Foundation directly. Apply here. More details are available here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NECE Lab 2026?
It’s a three-day event in Warsaw, Poland, from July 12 to 14, teaching civic educators and activists how to run dialogue projects with polarized groups.
What skills will participants gain?
You will learn to set up civic dialogue projects, include diverse views, handle hot topics, run online or in-person talks, and create real change.
Who can apply and is there travel help?
Civic educators and activists from Europe can apply; selected participants get up to 500 EUR for travel to Warsaw.
How do I apply for NECE Lab 2026?
Submit your application by April 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM CEST via the link, showing your plan to start dialogues back home.