From 18–20 June, a huge event took place in Tirana, Albania — 2025’s Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue — with over 800 participants, all coming together to mobilize dialogue as a tool for bridging gaps and peacebuilding, especially during this crazy time with all the world events we’re witnessing. Over 100 parallel sessions took place during this forum, with speakers and experts from about 43 countries, all believing in dialogue and interdependency, and making efforts in their local communities to see change, namely: co-existence, empowerment, and ultimately, peace. With her reverent and powerful presence, Her Excellency Princess Rym Ali, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, led the participants with her motivation and belief in dialogue and equality for all. She inspired participants to see that this event was not like any other, and that meaningful conversations, policies, and actions were its main objectives. Crossing Borders, as the head of the Danish ALF Network, was also present, trusting in the Foundation’s mission and vision and actively taking part in it. As our continuous aim is to connect and empower people to become active citizens, we came together with other ALF networks from Luxembourg, Portugal, Estonia, and Lebanon to create a common framework of what a true path toward these aims could look like. This collaboration sparked the creation of the “Citizen Action Space,” which featured music, art, conversations, debates, and cultural exchange across more than five sessions under the same umbrella theme. Crossing Borders’ session, “Words Across Borders” explored themes such as cultural exchange, climate action, interconnectedness, mutual understanding and solidarity, and effective communication. We began with a proverb exchange, highlighting how timeless wisdom transcends borders. Participants shared proverbs in their native languages, many of which reflected similar values across cultures. This simple yet profound activity sparked deep connections among people who had never met before. Next, we moved into a dynamic group activity involving voice, movement, and gestures. Though fully improvised, participants managed to find a common rhythm, creating a beautiful and spontaneous harmony. It was a moving example of how collaboration and listening can transform individual expression into collective beauty. The third station focused on climate action, emphasizing our shared responsibility as stewards of nature. Participants reflected on the urgent need to speak on behalf of the natural world which communicates through climate change and extreme events, and the importance of real behavioral change. Finally, participants engaged with the “Domino Effect” wall, a creative space where they expressed their inner thoughts, frustrations, hopes, and calls to action. They also wrote messages addressed to those who couldn’t attend the forum, extending the impact of their reflections beyond the space. This workshop would not have been possible without the support of the incredible co-hosting team, each bringing their unique expertise in law, psychology, arts, and communication: Raquel Gioconda Ferreira (Luxembourg): Counselor and researcher in transpersonal psychology and cross-cultural communication Claudine Zaarour (Lebanon): Legal researcher, founder of Unity Up, and PhD candidate in law Kelli Eek (Estonia): Head of Communications at Mondo Mona Soliman (Egypt): Co-founder and General Manager of Wasla for Arts After the closure of ALForum 2025, on the 21st of June, a Heads of Networks meeting took place, bringing together the 43 country representatives to discuss key topics such as: evaluating ALForum’s takeaways, exploring new collaborations through the upcoming round of support under the Network Engagement Scheme (NES 2025–2026), and operationalizing the ALF Multi-Annual Work Programme 2025–2028. It was such a unique experience for me, Margaret Hafez, to be the representative of the Danish network and the moderator of the session “Words Across Borders.” So many new connections, so much to reflect on, and a lot to act upon and pass on to my local community and to Crossing Borders. Tirana was definitely the right place to hold such an event, with its hospitality, diversity, landscapes, and welcoming arms to differences, seeing them not as threats but as strengths.
