FLYING GIRAFFES How Nonviolent Communication helps young people to spread their wings

Flying Giraffes is an Erasmus+ training course designed for youth workers who want to develop creative and engaging approaches to teaching emotional intelligence, empathy and communication skills to teenagers.

The training explores how Nonviolent Communication (NVC) can be experienced through playfulness and embodied learning. Participants will discover how feelings and needs can be expressed not only through words, but also through movement, theatre, games, storytelling and creative expression. Through hands-on activities and experiential learning, youth workers will gain practical tools to support young people in understanding their emotions, recognising their needs and building healthy relationships.

The project also creates a space for youth workers who already use or are interested in NVC to exchange experiences, learn from one another and co-create new playful methods that can be used in youth work. By working together and sharing practices, participants will strengthen a supportive international network that can continue collaboration beyond the training.

Objectives of the training:

• strengthen youth workers’ competences in facilitating emotional intelligence and empathy among young people;
• explore Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a practical tool for youth work;
• introduce creative and experiential methods such as theatre, movement, games and storytelling;
• provide practical tools to help teenagers express feelings and needs in constructive ways;
• encourage peer learning and exchange of good practices among youth workers;
• co-create new playful educational methods that can be applied in youth work contexts;
• build an international community of practitioners interested in empathy-based education.

Through this training, participants will leave with practical methods, new inspiration and stronger connections to support young people in developing empathy, self-awareness and healthy communication.