Trees that are rooted: Embracing the human outer nature

The idea of the project “Trees that are rooted”

Being youth workers, we observe how the situation among young people in the whole Europe is changing. Some young people are struggling with unemployment, many young people become inactive citizens, or fall into depression or radicalization. We decided to name our project “Trees that are rooted” with a vision to train youth workers to nurture the young people holistically. This is because we believe that young people need to be rooted firstly in themselves, secondly in their community and last in the whole world, just like the trees do.

This is why our project encloses two activities/training courses for youth workers:

The 1st training course “Trees that are rooted – Nurturing young people’s inner nature" already took place in July 2021 in Czech Republic and focused on young people’s inner nature, self-awareness and self-embracement.

The 2nd training course “Trees that are rooted - Embracing the human outer nature” will take place between 15-23 October in Cyprus. This training course advances on the solid “rooting” in the previous training and extending it into the being with others, engaging in meaningful peer relationships, belonging to the world, manifesting the gifts of the inner nature (identity) in the world.

About the second training course “Embracing the human outer nature”, 15-23 October 2021, Cyprus

WHY – Objectives of the training course

• To explore the reality of hard to reach youth and the reasons that drag them to radicalization, focusing more on their search for meaningful place in the community
• To enhance the understanding of youth workers regarding the developmental stages of young people that derive from the theory of Eco-centric Development.
• To explore innovative theories and educational approaches that youth workers can use in order to improve their work with hard to reach young people
• To develop their skills in working with hard to reach youth using the above mentioned concepts.
• To increase youth worker’s motivation and inspiration to work further with youth, especially the ones who are hard to reach and at risk of radicalization
• To develop sustainable follow-up actions targeting hard to reach young people that they will implement in the period of 3 months after the training course.

WHAT – Topics

• Ecocentric-development: understanding the stages of healthy development of the young people
• Four fold practice: understanding how we move from the “I” to “we”
• Ability to work together and cultivating win-win-win attitudes
• Dynamics of conflict and paths of dealing with it
• Leadership skills: Bringing the change to the world
• Sense of initiative: offering from the heart to the others
• Emotional intelligence: knowing and working with feelings of myself and of others
• Mindfulness: maintaining an inner peace
• Nature connection: deepening the relation with ourselves and the Earth
• Positive Psychology: Living a meaningful life

HOW – Methods

• Nature based activities (being and working with the nature)
• Experiential learning (we will be doing things, maybe, out of the comfort zone)
• Singing (using the voice to sing, to hum, to chant, to explore)
• Embodiment (using the body to dance, to move, to explore)
• Visual art (drawing, making mandalas, making art)
• Meditation (immersing into contemplation)
• Work with peers (we will be listening, sharing, empowering)
• Self-reflection (time alone thinking, journaling and imagining)
• Rituals and ceremonies (atmospheric activities in which we connect deeper with ourselves and others)
• Holistic learning (creating space for connecting through the body, physical state, emotions, feelings, energy, as well as connection with more than just 1-2 areas of our life)
• Spirituality (cultivating our connected with the non-human world)

Who is it for

This training course is for you, if you fulfill the selection conditions:

• Are a youth worker (youth trainer, youth coach, youth leader, teacher, youth organizer, volunteer, activist, social worker, youth NGO leader, etc.),
• Resonate with the idea of the project and want to delve deeper into the topics,
• Are committed to put in practice the competences you will acquire during the training course with young people in follow-up practice activities and with your colleagues,
• Are above 18 years old,
• Are resident in one of the partnership countries (see below),
• Are able to work in English,
• Are dedicated to the values of responsibility, humbleness, courage, respect,
• Priority is given to people who can't afford a similar paid training.

(the above constitute also the selection criteria)

What is expected from you:

Before the training:

• Once you are selected to participate, you will have 48 hours to confirm your participation. If you do not confirm, then your place will be given to another applicant.
• Once you confirm your participation, you will search for the travel itinerary and will send us the proposal. Once we confirm you the proposed itinerary, you book your tickets. Do not book any travel tickets before we confirm you the proposed itinerary. You will need to buy your ticket, latest by the 1st October 2021.
• Also, we will offer to you a series of educational preparation that you need to do before coming to the training course. You need to be available to follow on these during the period of 1-15 October 2021.

During the training course: your full dedication is required.

After you return back home: you will practice what you learnt and implement a follow-up activity among young people. You also share your knowledge with your colleagues/friends/peers in your organization and beyond.

How to apply

You can apply following this link. 

https://forms.gle/iVzVPBgBWPrLNY8v6

We are looking forward to have you with us!