Field visits - Poznań 2026

In line with our traditions, EFRJ conferences have always included local field visits as an integral part of the programme. This part of the programme is planned by the local conference organising team to create connections between the host partners and professionals and our international audience, and to propose moments for professional learning and cultural enrichment. 

Field visits are typically connecting general reflections and theories on restorative work with real-life experiences on the ground and they are opportunities for further networking and relationship building. Sometimes, these visits also provide an opportunity for leisure by exploring the cultural and touristic dimensions of the host city.

For the locals (especially for those not attending our 3-day event), this is an opportunity to share experiences and challenges in an international platform, or simply to showcase the uniqueness of the city hosting us. For the international participants, this is an opportunity to engage with local professionals and/or citizens and see the city through new lenses. 

The local team is planning the following field visits, scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 13 June (estimated time: 15:00-18:00):

1. IN DIALOGUE WITH POLISH JUDGES
2. VISIT OF A RESTORATIVE PRIMARY SCHOOL 
3. IN DIALOGUE WITH GDAŃSK AND WROCŁAW RESTORATIVE CITIES
4. LET’S PLAY RESTORATIVE GAMES IN THE PARK!
5. TALK WITH THE COMBATANTS OF PEACE AT LOCAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL
6. CITY WALK ON JUSTICE AND URBAN ARTS

Places for each visit are limited (25-40 seats per each visit). Closer to the event, participants will be able to register to their preferred local visit.

This dialogue meeting will bring together some Polish judges from different local and national courts to learn more about restorative justice in the Polish legal system. Some experts on justice reforms in other European countries (possibly from Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, and Spain) will also take part in this session, in order to share their expertise from their national settings. This meeting could provide powerful suggestions for designing restorative justice strategies and implementing national action plans. All participants will also be encouraged to share their personal experiences and knowledge about their national laws on restorative justice, in order to facilitate a dialogue and take inspiration from each other's systems. 

Practicalities & target groups

This dialogue will be most probably hosted in one of the rooms of the city hall. It is particularly beneficial for practitioners and policymakers working in the legal field in their home country (service directors and managers of justice-related services, judges and prosecutors, experts involved in justice reforms).

This field visit focuses on the practical implementation of restorative and relational practices at “Spark Academy”, a primary school in Poznań. For 10 years, the school has utilized community-building circles and a dedicated social-emotional development program and peer mediation club. Restorative practices are the primary method for resolving harm and conflict. What also distinguishes “Spark Academy” in the Polish educational landscape is its approach to "behavioral assessment": instead of grading obedience or compliance, the school evaluates the development of specific social-emotional competencies and tracks community-building. During the visit, participants will meet the school staff to hear how a restorative way of thinking about harm led to establishing the mediation club in response to playground conflicts. This visit provides a critical perspective on the implementation process, highlighting both successful milestones and ongoing challenges or areas still requiring development.

Practicalities & target groups

The program includes a school tour led by students, participation in a circle with pupils and staff, a meeting with the mediation team and a dedicated Q&A session. This field visit is mostly interesting for educators, school principals, mediators, and psychologists.

This field visit offers an opportunity to learn more about two Polish restorative cities. As both are located too far to be visited in person (Gdańsk is over 300 km from Poznań, and Wrocław is 180 km away), their teams will join us at the City Hall in Poznań. Wrocław was part of the EFRJ Working Group on Restorative Cities until 2023, while Gdańsk is currently involved. Members and representatives of other existing restorative cities (from Belgium, Italy, The Netherlands) are also encouraged to join the conversation and share their long-standing experience. Through this dialogue, participants will be invited to reflect on both the challenges and strengths of restorative city projects.

Practicalities & target groups

This meeting is particularly relevant for practitioners working in community and urban settings who are interested in learning more about the restorative cities framework, with a view to implementing similar initiatives. 

This hands-on experience focuses on the creative dissemination of restorative justice concepts through educational games. Developed by psychology students from SWPS University, these games aim to make the core principles of restorative approaches accessible and engaging for people of all ages. The session will showcase several different games, each designed to build a better understanding of restorative ideas. It offers a unique look at how students can translate restorative concepts into interactive tools and demonstrates how academic knowledge can be translated into practical, playful tools for social change and community building. Participants will observe the effect of the creative process of people who are just discovering restorative practices themselves, providing a fresh and practical perspective on how to promote these ideas in the wider community.

Practicalities & target groups

Participants will walk to the park nearby (or remain in the building, in case of rain), where they will rotate between different game stations. They will have the opportunity to play the games, each facilitated by the students who created them. This session is beneficial for educators, students, mediators, and anyone interested in innovative, non-formal education and restorative justice. 

Ethno Port is an international world‑music and cultural festival in Poznań celebrating global musical traditions through concerts, workshops, film and discussion events that build bridges between cultures and communities. This documentary screening will take place in the Centrum Kultury Zamek, an ancient imperial castel in the city center. The documentary “There is Another Way”, directed by Stephen Apkon (2025), follows the lives of the Combatants for Peace, a group of former Israeli and Palestinian fighters who reject violence in favor of nonviolent and joint action. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Chen Alon and Sulaiman Khatib (plenary speakers in the 1st conference day), former combatants who have been nominated twice for a Nobel Peace prize. This event will provide a powerful opportunity to reflect on the potential of restorative dialogue in contexts of mass-victimisation, war and genocide. 

Practicalities & target groups

The screening is offered as a cooperation between the EFRJ and the Ethno Port Festival to encourage encounters and discussions between our international community and local citizens in Poznań. The event is interesting for anyone working on transitional justice and on restorative justice in serious and complex cases of collective harm.

This 1.5-hour guided tour is an opportunity for participants to explore the city of Poznań and discover its spirit through the lenses of a local tourist guide. By walking through the city in a relaxed and engaging way, participants will get insights into history, culture, traditions and the evolving urban landscape. They may also experience a special focus on urban art and graffiti, uncovering how public spaces reflect social narratives and community voices. The local guide will (try to) curate a walking tour resonating with the conference themes of justice, community safety, and social cohesion.

Practicalities & target groups

This guided walk in the city (estimated time: 1.5 hour) is ideal for those who wish to deepen their understanding of our host city while still connecting in a relaxed way with other conference participants.