From 0 to 1 .. - #Blog1

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This week we officially began working on our project... We were first introduced to the central theme for this year- social c

ohesion, and then divided into work teams.

Our group opened the week with a team introduction and brainstorming session, where each member shared ideas and insights from their preliminary research on the Social cohesion topic.

The discussion brought up a wide range of perspectives, including not formal education and organizations that promote belonging, the importance of psychological safety within groups, youth movements, and social cohesion among special populations such as individuals on the autism spectrum and people with disabilities.

After consolidating our ideas, we identified three main problem domains to explore further:

Lack of belonging and social exclusion among teenagers.

Blurred self-identity and social pressure toward conformity.

The impact of social media on group cohesion and interpersonal relationships.

We then began refining needs within each domain and began the research and validation phase.

As part of this process, we started interviewing professionals from various fields - including teachers, youth instructors from the Gaza border area, Non-formal Education School Coordinator working with people with special needs, social workers, and educational counselors.

The expert interviews revealed that social belonging “doesn’t happen by itself” and must be intentionally facilitated. Meaningful adults play a key role in creating safe spaces, mediating social dynamics, and “meeting each teenager where they are,” while experts repeatedly stressed the urgency of bringing youth back to real, off-screen group experiences and addressing the growing impact of social comparison, stigma, and digital pressure on identity and belonging.

The interviews reshaped how we think about the problem and clarified what truly needs to be addressed.

The attached photos capture moments from our first group Zoom meeting ( the first of many to come ) and from our initial brainstorming process.

We’re looking forward to continuing our journey next week as we dive deeper into understanding what truly builds social cohesion.