ABSTRACT

In an era marked by increasing social, political, and cultural polarization, intercultural communication practitioners are challenged to move beyond awareness-based approaches toward methods that actively foster dialogue and connection across differences. This article explores the Peace Child model, a youth-centered, theatre-based approach to peace building, as a powerful framework for facilitating dialogic engagement in both global and local contexts. Drawing on its origins during the Cold War and its application in conflict regions around the world, the article examines how Peace Child integrates principles of dialogic theory, experiential learning, and co-creative storytelling to transform encounters with difference into opportunities for mutual understanding. Particular attention is given to the role of embodied, arts-based practices in disrupting entrenched narratives and cultivating generative dialogue. The article also addresses the relevance of this model in responding to contemporary polarization and offers practical strategies for intercultural practitioners seeking to design similar programs. By positioning creative collaboration as a catalyst for transformation, this work highlights the potential for theatre and dialogue to reimagine how individuals and communities engage across divides.

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