S.A.N.T.A. - Say, Act: Never This Again! [Tackling Mental Health]

ABOUT SANTA

"Say, Act: Never This Again! - Tackling Mental Health" is a 7-days training course that wants to explore tools and methodologies based on performative arts and personal narratives aimed at empowering young people by improving their communication skills and supporting them in the process of making their voices heard and open up about mental health challenges. The training will be realised using a range of experiential learning opportunities, non-formal educational approaches and a wealth of youth work theory and practice to actively engage and develop the skills of the participants.

The project will take place in the Czech Republic, close to the city of Olomouc, in the beautiful ecological centre Sluňákov (www.slunakov.cz/en), from the 21st to the 28th of January 2023 (travel days included). It will involve 24 participants and 3 trainers from 9 different European countries (Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Spain).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This training aims to equip youth workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to create a safe and creative environment for the youth to express, while developing and understanding the principles of meaningful expression and active listening based on an awareness of youth work principles and practice, and to explore the opportunities Erasmus+ offers to apply these competences. 

The objectives of the project are therefore as follows:

• to explore the concept of "transformational storytelling", how to use storytelling as tool for innovation to change and self-development;
• to understand how storytelling, playback theatre and stand up comedy skills can be used as creative methods to let youth express, address and open up about mental health challenges;
• to increase youth workers’ readiness to act using the competences acquired during the project as well as confidence to apply them;
• to develop an action plan for participants to engage their youth in their organisation's context as well as the regional and European level;
• to implement the lessons learned and action plans in the partner organisations and virtually share and evaluate the activities organised.

THE TRAINING TEAM

The training team comes from rich and diverse backgrounds and, beside a practical and extensive experience in the field of youth work and training, offers and combines a wide expertise in performative arts such as drama, playback theatre, improv, comedy and storytelling:

• Carmine Rodi Falanga (Italy/ Czech Republic)
• Rob Van Leeuwen (Netherlands)
• Mafalda Morganti (Italy)