Mindful Bridges

ABOUT THE PROJECT

"Mindful Bridges” is a training program for youth workers to develop inner clarity and outer harmony for a culture of peace.

This project combines self-care with social responsibility. It is an encouragement to be mindful of your inner peace, which sets conditions to initiate change from within and affect change in the outside world.

It aims to develop competences of 22 young change-makers and youth workers in inner peace, wellbeing, community building and peacebuilding in order to boost their resilience necessary in youth work. Through non-formal education and connection with the natural environment participants will develop their competences to foster personal growth, self-regulation, and collective well-being, ultimately leading to their more active role in youth work and as active citizens working towards a culture of peace in their local communities.

OBJECTIVES

• To develop participants’ understanding of concepts of peace, conflict, violence, peacebuilding, wellbeing and resilience;
• To reflect over inner peace as a foundation of strength, balance and confidence, enabling participants to use it as a guide for interacting with the world and managing challenges in their local youth work;
• To equip participants with tools to handle interpersonal and group conflicts peacefully, such as nonviolent communication and conflict management modes;
• To develop at least 5 follow-up activities in which participants will translate gained competences into their local youth work projects or work of their organisations. 

WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR ?

• We are looking for 22 participants based in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, France, Portugal, and Spain who are:
• Youth workers, educators, trainers, community leaders, or facilitators
• Involved in youth work, peacebuilding, or community-based projects
• Engaged or interested in mindfulness, emotional regulation, non-violent communication, and conflict transformation
• Eager to learn tools to better manage stress, anxiety, and unhealthy behaviours to better support their communities
• Comfortable communicating in English, as it is the working language of the training
• Open to simple living, nature connection, and community dynamics (you will sleep in tipis or your own tent, use compost toilets and mixed-gender showers, eat vegetarian meals, and share daily tasks with the group)
• Ready for a deep, experiential journey that requires a degree of emotional maturity and mental stability
• Committed to applying the experience in their local youth work or community initiatives

METHODS & APPROACH

The training is based on non-formal education, somatic practices, group sharing, and meditation techniques.

Be mindful that it can be a profound experience, this requires a certain level of mental stability. Please, take in account that the trainers are not therapists and this training is designed to share tools and knowledge for youthworkers, not for therapy.