This report dives into how humor can help young people in the Netherlands build resilience and connect across divides, based on surveys, focus groups, and interviews with youth workers, educators, and mental health pros. In a country still feeling the pull of political polarization, even after D66's close 2025 election win over the far-right PVV, youth are dealing with tough stuff like mental health struggles (25-30% report anxiety or depression), discrimination against migrants (who make up 18-20% of youth), social media isolation, and housing shortages.

We at Stichting Culture.World.Me. Education (CWM) gathered insights to shape practical tools for non-formal settings, showing humor's real potential to ease these pressures in a multicultural society.From the data, young folks face big hurdles like belonging issues, bullying, and identity worries, worsened by online echo chambers and far-right narratives. But humor shines as a tool: 88% of pros rate it highly effective for cutting stress, building trust, and sparking tough talks, like turning migration stories into light-hearted sketches that foster empathy.

Risks exist, though. Things like cultural missteps or reinforcing stereotypes, especially in sensitive areas like religion or politics, so it needs careful handling in small, safe groups. Preferences lean toward fun, interactive formats like games and improv over stiff lessons, with storytelling helping track personal growth.

Our recommendations focus on creating adaptable workshops with ethical humor guidelines, trauma-aware training for facilitators, and comedian partnerships to make sessions engaging and inclusive. Pilot these in diverse spots like migrant centers or schools, involve youth in co-design, and push policymakers to weave them into national mental health and integration plans. Ultimately, this approach turns humor into a smart strategy for stronger, more united young people in a divided world, let's put it into action.