SPIRAL - innovative methods for addressing the individual needs for development of disadvantaged and hard-to-reach young people

Aims of the tool

To support youth workers with easy to use description of practices that can be incorporated in programs, workshops, classroom and in one-to-one work. The practices address eight less covered psychological developmental needs of modern youth:
• Need for well-being (need for inner peace, mindfulness, inspiration, joy, happiness, balance)
• Need for belonging (need to be included, to be accepted, to be appreciated, to be respected, to be supported, to be recognized, to be trusted)
• Need for meaningful connection (need to communicate, to offer compassion, to receive empathy, to cooperate, to enjoy closeness and intimacy)
• Need for confidence (need to feel that you are worthwhile, to feel pride, to show self-love, self-acceptance, to be courageous)
• Need for authenticity (need for integrity, to be true to oneself, to live a life based on your values, to express oneself in a genuine way, to choose freely one’s own dreams and ways to realize them, to make independent choices that reflect oneself)
• Need for mastery (need to develop competences, find your element, to grow, to be “in the flow”)
• Need for purpose (need to have a meaning, need to be motivated, to create, to offer, to rise spirituality)

Description of the tool

This manual is created as a result of intensive work by participants and trainer’s team during TC “SPIRAL – principles for sustainable youth development rooted in Nature” (2020-1-BG01-KA105-078293), funded by European “Erasmus +” Program.
The manual contains information about the project and materials about disadvantaged youth and their developmental needs.
What we offer in this handbook are innovative way and methods to address less covered developmental needs of youth. The approach combines nature-based methods, mindfulness practices, developmental psychology and somatic practices.

The abbreviation SPIRAL stands for the basic principles that unite the methods included in the Integral approach:
Spiritual development
Positive worldview
Interconnection with all natural beings
Resilience
Active role in the community
Life purpose identification