Exploring Ecofeminism In Youth Work

Important: Please read this call and the information included carefully. Check adequately if you fit the profile of the participants we are looking for, before deciding to apply.

Young people today are more and more aware of both the climate crisis and the struggles for gender equality. These issues are often discussed and tackled separately in various circles and youth spaces. Ecofeminism comes with a solid framework meant to explore more deeply the interconnections between the exploitation of nature and the oppression of women and marginalised groups worldwide. There is a growing expectation for youth work to be more holistic, intersectional, and capable of connecting struggles across movements. This training course is the answer to this demand.

Youth workers, due to the nature of their role and outreach, have a great potential to:

• Introduce meaningful topics to young people and increase their interest in feminism in the context of global environmental injustices and oppressions.
• Support young people’s journey to recognise how social and ecological injustices intersect and what this means for their day-to-day life.
• Promote critical thinking about dominant narratives that normalise the exploitation of natural resources or different (marginalised) identities.
• Motivate young people to become activists and support a more just and sustainable community.

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Understand and define ecofeminism in the bigger context of the feminist movement, its various strands and focus points.  
• Explore and analyse the connections between ecological degradation, patriarchy, and other systems of domination (capitalism, colonialism, racism, etc.). 
• Identify dominant narratives about gender and the environment in media, politics, and popular culture and how they are linked. 
• Critically reflect on how youth are affected by both environmental crises and gender inequalities, and how these are interconnected and interdependent.  
• Be motivated to integrate ecofeminist practices and values into their youth work environment.
• Encourage young people to become change agents in their communities by linking feminist and ecological activism.

The course is strongly based on experiential learning principles and philosophy, with adequate time allocated for debriefing and reflection throughout the program. The working methods used are chosen to offer the possibility of equal involvement of each participant, every person being stimulated to be engaged actively in the process.  The training activities are flexible and adaptable to group needs, taking into account the reactions of participants, their feedback, their expressed needs, their experience and the way they will work as a group. 

The learning process will be guided and facilitated by an experienced team. All of them are deeply passionate about feminism and ecofeminism, constantly learning and practising these values in personal and professional contexts, and sharing a strong desire to live in a world that is both feminist and sustainable. Through their work, they bring feminist and ecofeminist perspectives into people's lives, challenge dominant narratives and the status quo, and empower young women, men and others to recognise the connections between gender justice and environmental justice. 

• Andreea-Loredana Tudorache has been involved in the international youth work field since 2003 in various capacities. She is one of the founders of A.R.T. Fusion Association and, over the years, has trained numerous professionals around the world in various topics. (http://trainers.salto-youth.net/AndreeaLoredanaTudorache )
• Elena Stevkovska, youth worker, volunteers manager, theatre facilitator and trainer since 2021. (https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/elena-stevkovska.6009/ ) 
• Tuba Ardic is the Director of Creative Connection, a Trainer at the National Agency of Norway and a passionate youth worker, active mentor, trainer, facilitator and social researcher since 2010. 

The hosting organization:

Creative Connections Norway (CCN) is established in 2018 within the CIDERHUSET, an apple farm and cidery located in the peaceful landscapes of Balestrand. It is founded by Tuba Ardic and Gard Eitungjerde Høyvik, who are national trainers for the Erasmus+ program in Norway. With extensive experience in international projects, the founders have brought their expertise to the art village Balestrand.  Alongside their involvement in the gastronomy and tourism sectors, the founders are passionate about fostering artistic projects and cultural exchange. 

To ensure a long-lasting impact, they established CCN as a non-governmental organization (NGO) to spearhead a variety of initiatives and forge strategic partnerships aimed at cultivating creativity and fostering cross-cultural dialogue. At the heart of CCN's mission lies its unique approach known as ''ARTicipation'' which harnesses the power of artistic expression to promote inclusion and active participation. Through ''ARTicipation'' CCN aims to create an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can engage with art as a means of self-expression and social connection.

A recent milestone in CCN's journey is the establishment of the Balestrand Art Factory. This dedicated space for artistic expression and creativity serves as a hub for various artistic workshops, events, and artist residencies. It is located just 1,5 kilometers away from Ciderhuset farm and has stunning panoramic view over the Sognefjord. With the vision of becoming a significant contributor to the region's creative landscape, Balestrand Art Factory embodies CCN's commitment to enriching cultural experiences and empowering individuals of all ages and backgrounds through art. 

Do you resonate with this course and want to be part of it? 

Any interested applicant must check all the following requirements: 

• Active members or close collaborators of active Youth Organisations (staff or active members, paid or not) who are working regularly with young people. It is obligatory that the organisation has a valid OID number at the moment of applying!
• Enthusiastic youth workers who are motivated to work with Ecofeminism topics with young people
• High personal motivation/passion for both the Feminist and Environmental causes
• Good command of the English language (to be able to engage actively and meaningfully in the discussions during the course)
• People older than 18 years and with a legal residence (proven by documents) in the country they are currently residing in. 
• People with residence in one of the Erasmus + Program Countries (EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme that do not need a visa for Norway) 

Important: The criteria mentioned are not optional or negotiable. We will not respond to any inquiries aiming to challenge these criteria stated previously.  

• If you are not part of an organisation, as an active member, do not apply! 
• If you cannot communicate actively in English, do not apply!
• If information provided in the application process are not valid we reserve the right to cancel your participation in the project and not reimburse any costs incurred until that moment.