Project Overview
Project Reference: 2024-1-SI02-KA153-YOU-000198726
Status: Completed
Duration: June 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
EU Grant: €39,131
Programme: Erasmus+
Action Type: Mobility of Youth Workers
Countries Involved: Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Serbia, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria
Background
Young people today face emotional, social, and environmental challenges. Many youth workers want to help, but they lack tools to support vulnerable youth in meaningful and holistic ways. The project Nurturing Earth Spirit was designed to answer this need. It uses movement, creative expression, and nature to support mental well-being, inclusion, and personal development among young people and those who work with them.
Objectives
The project aimed to equip youth workers with innovative tools to support young people, especially those with fewer opportunities or mental health struggles. It focused on building safe spaces, promoting self-expression, and fostering social inclusion. Participants explored empathy, emotional awareness, self-regulation, and sustainability. The goal was to help youth workers create supportive environments where every young person can feel seen, heard, and connected.
Implementation
The central activity of the project was an international training course held in Slovenia. It brought together 30 participants from 10 countries, including youth workers, trainers, and non-formal educators. Using non-formal and experiential learning methods, the training offered hands-on practice with nature-based activities, body awareness techniques, and creative methods. The diverse group allowed for rich exchange and mutual learning.
Key Activities
The training focused on three main elements: movement and somatic practices, creative expression, and connection with nature. Participants learned to be more present and mindful through movement. They explored creativity without pressure, using art as a tool for communication and empathy. Nature immersion helped them feel connected to the environment and fostered compassion. These elements were woven together to support deeper awareness and a sense of belonging.
Results
An online manual was created to document the methods, tools, and ideas explored during the training. It includes practical examples and guidance for youth workers to use in their everyday work. Participants also held local follow-up workshops in their home communities to share what they had learned. Slovenian partners organised a national event to promote holistic approaches in youth work, engaging local stakeholders and raising awareness.
Impact
The project helped participants grow personally and professionally. They developed skills to support mental well-being, lead inclusive activities, and create meaningful learning experiences. The training improved the quality of youth work in partner organisations and sparked ideas for future collaboration. The project also reached local communities and the wider youth sector through dissemination events, social media, and continued networking among partners.
