One of the core challenges in dialogues centered on social cohesion is defining appropriate indicators of success. As part of an SDC-funded project in collaboration with UNDP and UNFPA, we explored this challenge using a participatory ’art and peace’ methodology. This project engaged individuals working in international cooperation organizations from diverse municipalities across Moldova.
The participants were invited to self-identify according to categories such as age, language, geography, and profession. They were then asked to draw two images: one representing themselves, and one representing their perceived “other.” This visual and reflective activity enabled a collective analysis of self-perception and intergroup dynamics within Moldovan civil society.
The self-representations, those labeled as “us”, were frequently illustrated through images of activists and people who work for international organizations depicted as strong, privileged, educated, and knowledgeable individuals who are actively “helping” others. In contrast, the “other” group was often portrayed as the recipients of services or project participants. These visual narratives revealed implicit hierarchies and divisions between the perceived “helpers” and “helpees”.
Through facilitated dialogue, participants analyzed these representations. They critically reflected on (positive and negative) stereotypes on the self and on others, and on the dynamics of power, privilege, and identity embedded within them. A key insight that emerged was the idea that a meaningful indicator of social cohesion lies in the sense of unity and interconnectedness between those offering support and those receiving it. When individuals perceive a shared identity and mutual solidarity with the communities they engage with, it signals the presence of a cohesive society.
This perspective positions international cooperation work, not as an act of charity or benevolence from the privileged to the marginalized, but as a collective responsibility grounded in solidarity and shared values between individuals, groups, and communities.
In later stages of the dialogue, participants began to create new images that reflected these revised understandings. These depictions illustrated acts of solidarity, emphasizing not hierarchical relationships but collaborative efforts to rebuild society together. They recognized that individuals occupy diverse roles and possess different forms of power, access, and privilege, and that acknowledging and leveraging these intersecting identities can contribute to the construction of a more cohesive, supportive, and equitable society.