"Living the Circle is 6 days long training course for 25 youthworkers, community workers and trainers from 6 different countries (BE, CZ, GR, HU, IT, UK). It will take place in Czech Republic on 23. - 29. 6. 2014. The main aim of Living the Circle TC is to experience living in community close to the nature and learn both on theoretical and practical level how to facilitate group processes, communication and community building in empowering and sustainable way, using community and nature based methods. Red threat of the TC will be practice of “The Four Shields of Human Nature”, which supports connecting with our place in nature and in our own lives. Essential part of the TC will be practice of ""The way of Council"". It is a non-hierarchical and violence-free form of communication, a practice that builds community, a method to support group processes, crises and conflicts. Council develops (inter)cultural understanding and inclusion. Participants are supposed to be able to facilitate Councils themselves at the end of the TC and use this practice back home in their communities - schools, youth groups, teams, famillies,..."

<< Objectives >>The “Inner Pathways toward a regenerative future. Mindful Activism in Youth Work” is an international project, comprising of 2 Training Courses for youth workers, youth leaders and educators to equip them with methodology, skills, knowledge and attitudes to guide and support young active citizens to lead themselves as well as their communities in a resilient, empowered and mindful way in response to current environmental, social and systemic challenges in Europe and in the world. This project is a direct outcome of the Erasmus + strategic partnership KA2 project “Inner Pathways toward Sustainability” (www.innerpathways.eu), where together with some of the partner organisations we have developed an approach to balancing self-care and action in individuals as well as mutual care in group dynamics. It responds to the increasing need for mindful activism among young people, and the approach has already proven to have a strong positive impact. We recognize the need for youth workers and youth leaders to learn these tools to support young people in becoming more resilient in order to make lasting positive changes. There is also the need for more knowledge and innovative tools for designing sustainable, social and systemic actions for nonviolent change. This project is a continuation of the Strategic Partnership, in order to promote the tools and reach out to new organisations and target groups in partner countries. Based on the 3 pillars of the European Youth strategy 2019-2027 - Engage, Connect, Empower and the European Youth Goals: Goal 11: “A Sustainable and Green Europe” and Goal 5 “Mental Health and Wellbeing”, this project aims at developing personal and professional leadership capacities of youth workers, leaders and educators for supporting and guiding people in taking an active and responsible role in responding to the current environmental, social and pandemic challenges.Participants will explore the “Inner Pathways approach” as a form of mindful activism. They will also learn about preparing young people for leadership challenges, increase competences in facilitating group processes and learn about designing meaningful innovative actions.Specific objectives of the project are: To provide a learning environment for youth workers, leaders and educators to explore and develop an understanding of the current global crisis and local challenges, offering space for self-reflection to identify one’s motivation to act. To support youth workers, leaders and educators with innovative tools and approaches of Inner Pathways, such as Mindful Activism and Regenerative Cultures, enabling them to become more resilient and mindful for more sustainable engagement and active participation.To empower youth workers, leaders and educators to become active and confident facilitators of their activist youth groups by strengthening their leadership capacities as well as providing them with methods relevant for group-based co-creation.To increase the understanding of youth workers, leaders and educators on how people can foster their capacity for self-care as well as maintaining the well-being of their communities.To equip youth workers, leaders and educators with tools for supporting young people in designing innovative actions in the fields of environmental, social and systemic change.To create international support networks, inspire and motivate youth workers, leaders and educators to continue supporting and guiding young people in their groups.<< Activities >>The project comprises of two activities: Training Courses.Activity 1: TC “From Inner Work to Outer Action” is planned to take place at the ASHA Centre, between 26/04 and 03/05 2021, bringing together 30 participants from 9 different partner organisations from the UK, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Latvia, Portugal and Turkey. Activity 2: TC “ Facilitating and hosting our communities” is planned to take place at the ASHA Centre, in August 2021, also bringing together 30 participants from 9 partners organisations, from the same youth groups. The direct follow up of this project is the implementation of the Inner Pathways approach in youth work in the groups and partner organisations they are involved in, integrating it organically in their youth work, daily lives application and non-formal learning activities.The activities in this project are planned for youth leaders, youth workers, educators working directly with young people in youth groups, organisations and initiatives that are actively involved in working towards environmental, social or systemic change, who are interested in developing their key personal and professional competences as regenerative leaders of their groups and communities. Who are interested in learning and understanding new, regenerative ways of active participation and innovative approaches to support young people engaged in the movements, initiatives and groups focused on bringing transformation in society. They would have the knowledge and understanding of the needs of the youth in the local context, the motivation and ability to participate in the full duration of the activity (including preparation, full participation in the training course and follow-up phase) as well as the capacity to transfer the competences gained to multiply the results of this Training Course within their groups/organisations.<< Impact >>This project will mainly impact the following groups: participants of the “Inner Pathways toward regenerative future” project, participating organisations, youth and local youth groups and communities that the participants work with.We expect that by participating in this project, youth workers, youth leaders and educators will develop their personal and professional capacities to support and guide young people in their active participation for environmental, social and systemic change.Participants will be equipped with mindfulness, nature and self-reflection based tools to support the effectiveness of young people’s active participation in the short- and long-run; will develop awareness and common understanding of the current global crisis and local challenges; increase their capacity to become active and confident facilitators of their activist youth groups, supporting young people in becoming more resilient to keep raising their voices and standing up for what they believe in to make the change happen in the long run; have better understanding of the characteristics of mindful activism and using regeneration as a key approach to approach themselves, the young people, the group and the cause; be able to themselves respond to the current state of the world with resilience and clarity in order to hold space and be able to fully support and guide young people on their path toward bringing change; and improve their ability to design actions based on the Inner Pathways approach. In the longer term, we expect that these outcomes will lead to increased resilience, increased personal and professional sustainability and a more impactful youth voice through higher levels of youth active participation. We expect that participants will bring back to the partner organisations and their groups their improved skills, knowledge and attitudes which will support the building and sustaining resilient, regenerative movements for environmental, social and political change. Where youth leaders, youth workers and educators connected to the partner organisations will be well equipped to support young people in having their voice heard for what matters to them. They will increase their ability to respond to current social and environmental challenges and will also be supported by a strong network of organisations that work together towards a more sustainable, just and peaceful society now and in the future, using the Inner Pathways approach. We believe that the inner awareness within social change organizations can truly enhance the effectiveness of groups working toward a just and sustainable world. In the long run, we expect that bringing attention towards these important topics of youth active participation, youth wellbeing and youth community building, promoting values of empathy, care and regeneration would be noticed by relevant decision-makers on a policy level, and the needs and challenges of youth and youth educators will be addressed with more attention. As tangible results of the project we expect: - Minimum 9 Competence Transfer Meetings (per Activity) within the partner organizations and the youth groups, reaching min. 5 people from each organisation/group- Minimum 9 campaigns/multiplication activities (per Activity) made by the participants-reaching minimum of 15 persons each- Minimum 9 stories of inspiration, change and action (per Activity) published on the innerpathways.eu website and partner organisations websites and social media - Minimum 5 audio podcasts of minimum 10 minutes each (per Activity), recorded by participants and added to Inner Pathways project podcast channel and shared through online channels of partner organisations - An informal European support network of organizations, youth leaders, youth workers and educators that are using Mindful Activism and Inner Pathways approach for increasing the level of active participation & green sustainable actions, gathering at least 80 members - 50 pictures from the project on Facebook with a hashtag #Innerpathways Young people wish to have a meaningful life, to contribute to the world they live in. To live in safe and healthy communities and the reality that provides safe, sustainable and just worlds for all now and in the future. However the situation might look grim at the moment, we believe that the Inner Pathways approach can support young people and those who guide them towards taking a mindful action towards a healthier, more regenerative future for themselves, others and the planet.

Background Kaleidoscope is a training programme designed to give youth workers (professional and volunteer) the confidence and competence to explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the young people they work with. The connections between Global Youth Work and the Erasmus+ form the essence of the Kaleidoscope training course. The training course draws inspiration from the One World Citizens (OWC) training course which was created and developed by the same trainers. Following on from the experience and evaluation of two OWC trainings, it seems reasonable to organize a next opportunity for practitioners within the Erasmus+ programme to take part in a training course exploring global issues, and their impact on young people. We wish to carry out this project for two reasons. Firstly, we are living in more globalised and interconnected world. This new context warrants a reinforcement of solidarity and active citizenship. Additionally, with the increasing trend of extremism globally, there is a need for a reinforcement of values related to this project and global citizenship in general such as sustainability, equality and peace. Objectives The objectives of this project are to: Examine the relationship between European citizenship and global citizenship, build skills, knowledge and attitudes related to addressing the SDGs (in particular Goal 4- Quality Education), explore a variety of methodologies related to addressing the SDGs (in particular Goal 4- Quality Education), allow a space for participants of the training course to design their own SDGs (in particular Goal 4- Quality Education) activities. Number of Participants/profile There will be a total of 28 participants on this project. There will also be 3 facilitators facilitating this training course and, also, support staff. The participants will be youth workers, trainers and volunteers who are 18 years of age or above. Description of Activities The main activity will be a 1 week training course using non-formal education methods to explore citizenship and the SDGs. Methodology Experiential learning will be very prominent throughout the project. Based on David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, this approach will provide a holistic learning experience for participants. Based upon what is known about how adults learn, this is an appropriate approach given the age of our participants. There will be a variety of methods used to cater for all learning styles (arts, nature-based, plenary, design thinking). Impact Knowledge and critical understanding of the SDGs (in particular Goal 4- QualityEducation) has increased for youth workers. Youth workers will have a strengthened capacity to develop activities and projects which examine and explore the SDGs (in particular Goal 4- Quality Education) Longer-term benefits Participants will have a practical knowledge of how to develop a project (e.g. Erasmus+). This will provide them with a platform to apply their increased knowledge of the SDGs and citizenship to a concrete project. They will act as multipliers by sharing with and educating young people and colleagues using their new skills and knowledge. Participants, will create strong networks between each other's organisations and foster inter-organisational co-operation.

Time to (Re)Connect is a Youth Exchange that will gather 30 participants coming from 6 different countries: Spain, Hungary, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Czechia, and Ireland. The activity will take place in Almedijar, Spain from 26th October until 3rd November 2017.The aim of this Youth Exchange is to help the 30 participants to “reconnect” in the three aforementioned dimensions (self, society and nature). The central purpose of our project is to encourage the participants to learn about themselves and the world around them, to dive into their own personal values and weaknesses, and enhance their self-empowerment (“self reconnection”); to promote their sense of belonging, foster social inclusion, and empower ethical and environmental consciousness (“social and environmental reconnection”).The objectives for this project are:-To enhance the self-empowerment and self-awareness of the 30 participants; -To motivate the 30 participants to turn to ethical models of consumption that respect and promote human rights and sustainability; -To promote sustainable life habits and consciousness of being part of nature among the 30 participants; -To encourage the inclusion of youth from minorities as well as facing social and economical obstacles among the 30 participants; -To promote the Erasmus+ programme and to reinforce the EU values.Time to (Re)Connect is addressed to young people from 18 to 30 years old who lack connection with themselves, with their communities and with nature. In this regard, our “model” participant is a young person driven by consumerism and materialism; who is not engaged in his or her community nor motivated to actively participate in civil society; and who is removed from the natural world (mainly because he or she lives in urban areas). We want to involve young people with fewer opportunities and ensure gender balance within the participants.The working methods used is this project are based on non-formal education and experiential learning. They will encourage active participation and an atmosphere of inclusion, tolerance towards diversity, acceptance, and trust within the group. Partners will create stronger connection and share the methods applied so far. The recognition of non-formal learning through YouthPass and the value of international mobility will increase, more and higher quality international projects will be organised.

<< Objectives >>Background of the project ”Health and Well-being through Nature-based Methods” is the need to use nature-based educational tools to support young people and youth workers on a deeper level, like improving their personal and mental well-being while developing attitudes towards healthy lifestyles on one hand. On the other hand, IYNF aimed to stimulate youth participation in the Naturefriends network because we observed over the last years a lack of involvement of young people due to mental health issues or lack of motivation being socially engaged. It is worth mentioning that those issues already arose in the time before the COVID-pandemic. We believe that nature-based methodology has the power to transform non-formal education into deeper levels of learning, where participants would be able to tackle personal issues and realise their true self, creating sustainable and authentic change from within themselves and their communities, and ideally transform disengagement and disconnection into an active lifestyle.Therefore, the methodology was designed to deepen the quality of youth work by interrelating methods in outdoor education, self-awareness and intercultural understanding as conditions for happiness, motivation, mission in life, professional potential and community building. The objectives were to:- Increase knowledge and skills in the field of environmental education.- Deliver knowledge about holistic thinking and healthy lifestyles.- Develop attitudes towards nature-based youth work, open communication, ceremonies and rites of passage and how it can be included in contemporary educational and experiential activities.- Develop competences to recognize young people’s strong and weak sides, and be open to their vulnerability and personal development.- Create a space for intercultural awareness by sharing stories about ancient wisdom and symbols from different cultures.- Create innovative educational tools for self-discovery based on ecocentrism. To foster the challenges of this lifetime (especially climate change, political extremism & job security) Europe needs young leaders, who act with a healthy, cooperative and participative mind-set.<< Implementation >>The project “Health & Well-being through Nature-based Methods” (HWNM) has gathered 25 young leaders, youth workers, and volunteers representing the Naturefriends network and partner organisations in developing their personal and professional competencies through nature-based education.HWNM consisted of one international activity that was held from May 24th to 31st 2022 in Kostelec nad Orlicí, Czechia. The program consisted of eight days in total, from which two days were dedicated to travels only and six days to workshops around environmental education and the concepts of health and well-being. The program was divided into three main themes for enabling participants to work on deeper personal levels in youth work: - Community building; - Nature-based methods & self-awareness;- Educational innovation.Three experienced trainers delivered a nature-based non-formal education methodology, complemented by ceremonies and rituals and expertise from the local host organisation in Czechia. Conceptual frame of the program was the Medicine Wheel method, which is an ancient tool for reflecting on personal life by relating to natural elements, laws, and symbolism. Each day was dedicated to one direction of the Medicine Wheel with about 3-4 sessions, including daily check-ins and reflections. The program also included a Cacao Ceremony and an informational session on Erasmus+ opportunities and the YouthPass.As for the profile of participants we have defined as a priority to include participants with fewer opportunities, for instance young people facing health problems (e.g. stage 2 Lyme disease, burn-out, depression, among others), social and economical issues, and living in rural areas. Young people within the NEET category (not in education, employment or training) were also targeted, since the methods used, on one hand, foster personal development, which can support self-esteem and self-confidence; and on the other hand to support professional development, empowering the young people to work with the methods experienced and giving them space, within the network and beyond, to apply these skills and knowledge on a local level. The selection of the participants was based on a number of criteria, including the participants’ motivation, experience, a 50:50 gender ratio, geographical balance, their dissemination capacity and connection to the Naturefriends network. Partner organisations had an active role in the selection process.<< Results >>The core intent of the project was to provide young people with nature-based methods to support them in deeper learning, changing their attitudes and habits towards a more healthy lifestyle and promoting satisfaction at their workplaces, communities and youth participation.Participants experienced a non-formal methodology related to ancient wisdom, rituals and ceremonies, holistic thinking and ecocentrism. In peer to peer workshops they had space to share their own innovative tools for health and well-being. These experiences had several significant impacts on the participants, which is captured in the following outcomes:- The blog post “Nature speaks the language of my soul” is about nature-based methods, facilitating them and the impact they have on the health and well-being of participants.- A “Health & Well-being through Nature-based Methods Toolkit” was created by the trainer and project team and participants, showcasing the individual portfolios of youth workers and their diverse backgrounds towards the concepts of health and well-being. The toolkit mainly provides a profound nature-based methodology, stimulating the quest for healthy habits. - A HWNM Aftermovie was produced by the media team of the project, which consisted of a project team member and several participants. The video was published on different social media channels. It focuses on the impact of some of the methods used during the project by screening interviews of participants and elements of the programme.Personal impact on participants was also tracked in the evaluation form, which was conducted after the activity (more in section 8). HWNM also had a significant impact on the partners involved. They shared the outcomes in their newsletters and in annual meetings and thereby supported multiplying the aspects of deeper learning with nature-based methodology within their communities. Not just in terms of content impact was generated but also skills in project management were enhanced, especially for the Italian partner, Gian-giò, who was part of the management process from the very beginning.Despite not being a direct partner of this project the local host organisation Forest.Ink gained new collaboration on a local level by attracting participants to their nature-based programs. This can be seen as an example of cross-partnership collaboration. Also for IYNF itself the activity had a very positive impact on a local level, since the cooperation with Cia Cekja brought a new partner in the IYNF network and thereby valuable networking opportunities and inspiration for IYNF's future work in Czechia. And last but not least, for IYNF internally the project was a great chance to further its knowledge in regards to the green values of the organisation.