Just listen

In her amazing TED talk How to have a good conversation, Celeste Headlee raises a very important question: “Is there any 21st-century skill more important than being able to sustain coherent, confident conversation?”

She suggests several ways to have a better conversation but she points out that the one key is very simple: to listen. In this technological era and with such a frenzied lifestyle we almost forgot this crucial skill. If we are not able to listen to ourselves, our body, mind, emotions and spirit we cannot find balance, motivation and lead a satisfactory life. If we are not able to listen to another person we cannot build real relationships, support and understand one another. If we are not able to listen to our community, its needs, all the social projects we create are inadequate and only lead to frustration rather than real change. If we are not able to listen to nature we feel isolated, trapped, and we end up destroying it, failing to see the consequences which very soon we will all start to face.

This lack of listening and connection raises the feeling of loneliness. Rebecca Harris wrote in an article for the Independent that “Modern life is making us lonelier, and recent research indicates that this may be the next biggest public health issue on par with obesity and substance abuse. A recent review of studies indicates that loneliness increases mortality risk by 26%.”
The four main objectives of described project are to:
• enhance the connection with ourselves, listening to our mind, body, emotions and spirit; recognizing our strength, dreams and values and how they can be used in our daily life, including our work with youth.
• enhance the connection with the other, developing skills of mindfulness, empathy and deep listening, recognizing other people’s emotions, learning how to use coaching and non-violent communication in an effective way.
• enhance the connection with our community, recognizing its needs and planning social projects based on listening and empathy using the Design Thinking methodology.
• enhance the connection with nature, recognizing that we are all part of it, getting to know the permaculture concept, which embraces all kinds of listening.

Activities of the project:
Day 1 - Arrival and Day 2 – Introduction
Day 3 and 4 - Listen to yourself (Directly connected to the goal of enhancing the connection with ourselves, listening to our mind, body, emotions and spirit; recognizing our strength, dreams and values and how they can be used in our daily life, including our work with youth).
Day 5 and 6 - Listen to another person (Directly connected to the goal of enhancing the connection with the other, developing skills of mindfulness, empathy and deep listening, recognizing other people’s emotions, learning how to use coaching and non-violent communication in an effective way).
Day 7 and 8 - Listen to the community (Directly connected to the goal of enhancing the connection with our community, recognizing its needs and planning social projects based on listening and empathy using the Design Thinking methodology).
Day 9 and 10 - Listen to nature (Directly connected to the goal of enhancing the connection with nature, recognizing that we are all part of it, getting to know the permaculture concept, which embraces all kinds of listening).
Day 11 – Evaluation
Day 12 - Departure

Participants: youth workers, youth leaders, social workers;
Partners: looking for partner that work regularly with young people, 2 participants/partner

Send us your PIF. We are available for any further questions.
Contact: trbovlje.dpm@gmail.com
Deadline: 21th February 2023 until 8pm