Seed of Hope with Restorative Circles

"The Seed of Hope with Restorative Circles" is a 9-day Erasmus+ Training Course  designed for youth workers, educators, facilitators, and project coordinators active in non-formal learning and youth work who want to move beyond punishment and find more constructive, human ways of responding when things go wrong in a group.

What you will learn

Over 9 intensive days, you will build practical skills in:

• Facilitating Restorative Circles — a structured approach to addressing harm and rebuilding trust in groups
• Nonviolent Communication (NVC) — naming what happened without blame
• Staying emotionally grounded when situations are tense or difficult
• Rebuilding connection and trust after conflict or exclusion

What are Restorative Circles?

It's a structured practice developed by Dominic Barter in Rio de Janeiro in the 1990s. When something harmful happens, everyone affected - the person who caused harm, the person harmed, and the wider community comes together to be heard and to decide what needs to happen next. They are not about punishment or deciding who is right or wrong. They are about restoring connection and finding a way forward together. In youth work, they are one of the most powerful tools you can have.

Who is this for?

This training is for practicioners working in the field of non-formal learning and youth work. You should apply if you:

• Are 18+ and actively working with young people as a youth worker, educator, facilitator, or project coordinator
• Work in group-based settings such as youth centres, camps, workshops, exchanges, or NGOs
• Regularly encounter group work where might appear conflict, tension, or difficult behaviours
• Have an advanced level of English, enough to express yourself freely
• Are ready to engage fully before, during, and after the training and bring what you learn back to your organisation
• No prior experience with NVC or Restorative Circles is needed.

What to expect

The training takes place in a simple but beautiful rural community house surrounded by nature. You will live together as a group, share home-cooked vegetarian and vegan meals, and work in an immersive environment with limited Wi-Fi, designed for full presence and deep learning. Sessions run 6+ hours daily and combine hands-on circle facilitation practice, NVC exercises, role plays based on real situations from your own work, peer learning with colleagues from 6 countries, and grounding and self-regulation practices.

For the full info pack and to apply:
�� Info pack: https://canva.link/tuwfyhf5hj1wii5
�� Application: https://forms.gle/t5T6zAiKnPjrjgfJ7