ConnectYON Makers

“ConnectYON Makers” is an international training course designed for youth workers, educators, and changemakers who want to explore innovative ways to connect with Yourself, Others, and Nature. It is based on the ConnectYON Methodology described below.

Through experiential learning, hands-on activities, and reflection, the project supports participants in developing personal, social, and environmental skills to cultivate meaningful change in their communities.

The training course is designed as an event during which participants can shape their own learning paths by choosing from a variety of proposed workshops. While some sessions will be conducted with the whole group, others will take place in smaller groups, allowing participants to select activities that best match their needs and interests.

ConnectYON approach & methodology means connection to…

Yourself

It all starts from connection to Yourself… What are your needs, your values, your strengths, your dreams? How can you practice mindfulness and listening to raise self-awareness, build resilience and nurture your mental health? In our approach, we are helping participants to go deeper, understand their needs, values, dreams, passions, practice inner listening and mindfulness and more. All this to nourish mental health and build resilience.

Others

As part of connection to Others, we practice deep listening and Nonviolent Communication in order to build meaningful relations with others and contribute to more inclusive societies for all. We imagine the world where everybody is a changemaker and contributes with their talents to the development of regenerative communities.

Nature

All together we are Nature. We want to find our place back in our environment, feel again ourselves as part of it, explore Interconnectedness, re-envision our connection with wider nature, learn from it and with it, in order to develop and practice more sustainable and regenerative lifestyles.

GOALS AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES 

Participants of ConnectYON Makers will:

• Develop stronger self-awareness, emotional resilience, and mindfulness practices.
• Improve communication and collaboration skills, including empathic communication and conflict resolution.
• Explore regenerative and sustainable lifestyles, connecting theory with practical, hands-on experiences.
• Gain tools and methods to engage young people in personal growth, community building, and environmental awareness.
• Experience intercultural learning, building networks with other youth workers and changemakers across Europe.

ConnectYON Makers empowers participants to become proactive, conscious, and connected changemakers — ready to bring positive transformation to themselves, their communities, and the wider environment.

PARTICIPANTS PROFILE

Participants of this project should fulfill the following criteria: 

• experience and good understanding of the needs in the field of youth work as well as good understanding of the situation of young people in their local community and/or national context;
• at least a basic understanding of non-formal education purposes, framework and educational approaches; 
• motivation to take part in a mutual exchange and learning process held in an intercultural setting within a transnational team;
• good level of English;
• openness and willingness to actively participate and contribute to the programme;
• ready to devote their time and work to the project in all phases, including the fulfillment of tasks before the training and dissemination actions after.

There is no age limit in the training course, we try to bring different perspectives - from young adults till senior age practitioners. As much as in the case of gender or origin, we believe in the power of diversity and putting together various perspectives.

ACCOMMODATION:

The training course will take place in Ekologiczny Uniwersytet Ludowy (Ecological Folk High School), located in Grzybów village, Poland, which brings people interested in organic farming, food processing, rural handicraft, culture and ecology.

Participants will be accommodated in shared rooms (4-8 people per room), as community living is part of the experience, and/or in camping tents (you can bring your own camping equipment or we provide you with it). The venue offers a variety of educational and leisure spaces (including beautiful outdoor spaces ), presence of animals and other living beings, as well as solitude and natural surroundings reducing “city” distractions.