Mind Matters - EuroPeers Training Course on Mental Health and Well-being skills

About the course:

This is a training course for international EuroPeers, focussing on the improvement of knowledge and skills  of members within the network. Join our "Mind Matters" course and learn how to be aware and take into account the mental state of others and also manage your own well-being. Especially when doing youth work and performing EuroPeers activities it is important to be mindful of everyone's needs and to be able to create safer spaces for learning to happen.

The training for international EuroPeers is aimed at raising awareness about the mental health of participants and oneself. Participants should acquire skills on how to manage their own mental health matters better, promote skills of positive mental health in order to be able to support others when implementing activities in their networks.  The course will be taking place in Finland. The training course is a cooperation project between the EuroPeers SNAC, The Mental Health SNAC and the Finnish National Agency.

Profile of participants:

• at least 18 years old
• motivated to learn about ways of mastering one’s personal mental health in the context of organising and leading non-formal educational activities
• ready to take part in an intense learning experience
• committed to apply the skills learned in this course in their work as active EuroPeers back in their communities
• already an active EuroPeer, involved in the national network 
• have experienced EuroPeers activities as a participant or active organizer and plan to organise more activities for the local youth community after the training (e.g. workshop/informative session/ other relevant activity)
• able to attend the work in English

Aim of the course:

To acquire new skills and share knowledge and experience around the topic of mental health that help EuroPeers design mindful activities in their networks. This training aims at improving the mindfulness and wellbeing of individuals which ultimately results in more mindful activities in the local EuroPeers communities. Especially when designing and implementing non-formal educational EuroPeers activities to promote European mobility opportunities for young people (e.g. school workshop, EYE session, information session in trainings, public fairs and more) it is essential to be aware of everyone’s needs and to be able to create a safer space.

This is not a course to help you directly address your personal mental health-related issues or serve any therapeutic purpose, instead this course is for active providers of youth work. “Mind Matters” is a skill-based training for EuroPeers to learn skills that they can put into practice when organising peer to peer activities and when they are involved with the target group of the programs.

This is not a newcomer's training but an opportunity for already active EuroPeers to learn new skills related to the organisation and facilitation of EuroPeers actions and consequently to feel more confident in one's commitment as a EuroPeer. 

Objectives of this course:

• to improve the competencies of active EuroPeers related to designing and implementing mindful EuroPeers activities and creating safer spaces for learning to happen
• to provide a greater understanding of mental health and well-being in non-formal education 
• to support mindful exchanges of good practices between the EuroPeers Networks
• to provide methods, tools and approaches contributing to the mental health of individuals in the local EuroPeer communities
• to increase the motivation and confidence of young people to engage actively in  the EuroPeers Network as a safer space
• to reflect on their own potential to create mindful activities and empower individuals to be aware of their mental health

Methodology of the course: 

• experiential learning - instead of talking, we will create activities for you to experience what non-formal education is all about
• informal learning - we will give you plenty of space and time to share with each other and build on good practices and challenges of EuroPeers from all over Europe
• reflected practice - we believe that the best way to integrate new learnings is to put it into immediate practice, so you will have the opportunity to plan and practice everything we talk about

Info about the trainers:

Anna is a youth worker and culture producer from Finland. She has coordinated the Finnish EuroPeers Network for the last five years and the whole Network has a special place in her heart. Outside of the EuroPeers world Anna has worked in a youth theatre and with unemployed youth and has also produced various events in art, culture and youth work field. She is a big believer of lifelong learning and is constantly dreaming of a softer world.

Árpád is a youth worker and trainer from Hungary. He has worked in a Hungarian foster home and has experience in supporting socially excluded young people. He is also an outdoor educator, loves to draw, and uses movement, nature, and play as tools of youth work. He believes in the importance of dialogue, the practice of listening to each other, and noticing everyday miracles. 

Location and dates:

Anjala Youth Center Finland, 28th of February to 3rd of March 2023. Participants are expected to arrive on 28.02. and depart on 03.03., Helsinki is the closest airport.