From Caterpillar to Butterfly for Inclusion: Good Practices for Social and Professional Inclusion

From Caterpillar to Butterfly for Inclusion Good Practices for Social and Professional Inclusion

Co-financed by:

Organised by:

Project Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility of Youth Workers From Caterpillar to Butterfly - 2020-1-IT03-KA105-018296

Authors: Sara Marzo - VulcanicaMente APS, Italy Sandra Horea, Actions for Change, Romania Dora Preszeller, Sabai Treining, Hungary Contributors: Diana Tsastikova, Elisabeth Luisk, Allan Rist, Gabriel Wolter, Maximilian Dietz, Tomek lubotzki, Eleni Mavrogianni, Ermioni Vlachidou, Maria Misdaniti, Amanda Judit Gyarmati, Dóra Krisztina Vigh, Matyas Toth, Tommaso Passaro, Jacopo Miceli, Giulia Catania, Ricardo Casado, Helena Blankenstein, Adrián Blanco Lorenzo, Natalie Hamann, Dimitrios Anastasiadis, Per Renstrom, Michelle Shuman, Davide Mentuccia, Cristhian Scorrano © 2022 VulcanicaMente APS This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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about this booklet

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about erasmus+ program and youthpass

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the context

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the project

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the trainers

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tools and good practices for social inclusion

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testimonials

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contacts

table of contents

about this booklet Project Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility of Youth Workers From Caterpillar to Butterfly - 2020-1-IT03-KA105-018296

Authors: Sara Marzo - VulcanicaMente APS, Italy Sandra Horea, Actions for Change, Romania Dora Preszeller, Sabai Treining, Hungary Contributors: Diana Tsastikova, Elisabeth Luisk, Allan Rist, Gabriel Wolter, Maximilian Dietz, Tomek lubotzki, Eleni Mavrogianni, Ermioni Vlachidou, Maria Misdaniti, Amanda Judit Gyarmati, Dóra Krisztina Vigh, Matyas Toth, Tommaso Passaro, Jacopo Miceli, Giulia Catania, Ricardo Casado, Helena Blankenstein, Adrián Blanco Lorenzo, Natalie Hamann, Dimitrios Anastasiadis, Per Renstrom, Michelle Shuman, Davide Mentuccia, Cristhian Scorrano © 2022 VulcanicaMente APS This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The present booklet is a tool that can be used to enhance the impact of Non-Formal Learning (NFL) in preparing young people for their personal, social and professional development towards inclusive communities. “From Caterpillar to Butterfly for Inclusion: Good Practices for Social and Professional Inclusion" is a result of the project “From Caterpillar to Butterfly”, a KA 1 mobility of youth workers co financed by the European Commission.

The booklet collects some good practices and tools proposed by our trainers and by our participants during the training course.

In hope this will serve your work, “From Caterpillar to Butterfly” team

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about erasmus+ program and youthpass Erasmus+ is the EU Programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021-2027.

Education, training, youth and sport are key areas that support citizens in their personal and professional development. High quality, inclusive education and training, as well as informal and non-formal learning, ultimately equip young people and participants of all ages with the qualifications and skills needed for their meaningful participation in democratic society, intercultural understanding and successful transition in the labour market. Building on the success of the programme in the period 2014-2020, Erasmus+ strengthens its efforts to increase the opportunities offered to more participants and to a wider range of organisations, focusing on its qualitative impact and contributing to more inclusive and cohesive, greener and digitally fit societies.

European citizens need to be better equipped with the knowledge, skills and competences needed in a dynamically changing society that is increasingly mobile, multicultural and digital. Spending time in another country to study, to learn and to work should become the standard, and the opportunity to learn two other languages in addition to one's mother tongue should be offered to everyone. The Programme is a key component supporting the objectives of the European Education Area, the Digital Education Action Plan 20212027, the European Union Youth Strategy and the European Union Work Plan for Sport (2021-24).

Source: Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2021: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-a

Youthpass is a European recognition instrument for identifying and documenting learning outcomes that are acquired in projects under the Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps programmes.

Youthpass promotes individual reflection and awareness about learning and helps to make learning outcomes visible for the learners themselves as well as for others.

It aims to reinforce reflective practices in youth work and solidarity activities, thereby enhancing their quality and recognition.

It also supports the continued pathways of young people and youth workers, and... raises visibility of the value of European engagement.

More about Youthpass: https://www.youthpass.eu/en/about-youthpass/about/

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the context As stated in the EU Youth Report (most recent data) there is an increasing youth division: not all youth have equal access to opportunities, and obstacles tend to increase for those having fewer opportunities. The economic crisis caused increased risk of the social and professional exclusion of young Europeans from labour markets.

These newly emerging challenges in Europe are taken into account by the EU Youth Strategy and the Council.

Devastating events that have happened in the past few years remind us that radicalization and violent extremism are rooted in exclusion. EU Youth Strategy is concentrating on social exclusion and unemployment as being the most urgent issues reported.

Young people (15-29 years old) at risk of poverty and social exclusion increased in proportion from 25.9% in 2009 to 31.2% in 2017 (Eurostat data).

In this project we tried to find solid and sustainable solutions to ever-growing exclusion from both social and professional spheres. The partnership gathered youth organisations which are actively working with disadvantaged or NEET youths aiming at equipping youth workers with the needed competences.

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the project The project “From Caterpillar to Butterfly” aimed to develop the competences of youth workers to design life-changing sustainable learning environments for personal, social and professional inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.

The project took place from 1st to 10th of March 2022 in Italy, in Villa Diana, Merine 6 km from Lecce and it gathered 24 youth workers from 8 countries: Italy, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Greece, Germany and Estonia.

Sixteen participants were with fewer opportunities facing social, economic and geographic obstacles.

The Project Partners VulcanicaMente APS - Italy Asociatia Actions for Change - Romania Sabai Tréning Egyesület - Hungary POSITIVE YOUTH - Sweden Hellenic Youth Participation - Greece ASOCIACION VIAJE A LA SOSTENIBILIDAD - Spain MITTETULUNDUSUHING NOORED UHISKONNA HEAKS -Estonia NaturKultur Bremen e. V. - Germany

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The Project Objectives The project objectives for our youth workers were: To expand knowledge related to social and professional specifics relating to the inclusion of disadvantaged young people.

To develop the professional capacity (knowledge, skills, attitudes) in supporting disadvantaged young people on the path of personal, social and professional inclusion.

To increase the motivation of youth workers to engage with disadvantaged youth regarding their personal, social and professional inclusion.

To provide tools and innovative non-formal education methods that foster the sustainable inclusion of disadvantaged youth.

The training invited the participants to dive into a wide variety of educational elements (methodology and conceptualization). It was built using representative elements which derive from the principles of non-formal education such as: get to know activities, ice breaking games and group building activities, presentation of the project and Erasmus+ program sharing expectations, youthpass, competence-based guidance, daily reflection, debriefing based on daily activities Bloom taxonomy and final evaluation activities The training course will also contained the following content-related elements: information related to social and professional inclusion; 21st century reality of disadvantaged young people; inclusive living knowledge about the Nature-based Map of the Human Psyche; the individual treasure box of disadvantaged youth; physical, mental, emotional intelligence knowledge. skills to mentor young disadvantaged people in exploring their hidden resources and stepping onto the path for social inclusion; offering one-to-one support; using holistic education to activate their potential; boosting self-esteem and authenticity. creating follow-up action plans

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The Project Results The project had a meaningful impact on participants, organisations, and stakeholders at local, national and international levels. Some of the project intangible results are listed here.

Participants grew personally and professionally, being equipped with holistic educational tools for the inclusion of disadvantaged youth. They connected with likeminded youth workers and implemented local workshops on the project theme.They developed specific project-related knowledge, skills and attitudes such as Hidden Resources of the Human Psyche (Bill Plotkin).

Local organisations and the wider community have 24 better-trained youth workers, that work more efficiently with disadvantaged youth, more Erasmus+ project applications, better networks between partners and new holistic inclusive tools to implement.

The final target group, disadvantaged youth, benefits from 24 better-trained youth workers who will implement local workshops tailor-made to their particular profile.

The project's most tangible results are : 24 local workshops and multiplying events organised by the training participants; a final film on the project presented online and locally; this booklet "From Caterpillar to Butterfly for Inclusion: Good Practices for Social and Professional Inclusion".

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Sara Marzo Sara has 10 years of experience in international projects management and youth work. She is a trainer and facilitator specialised in mindfulness, green mindfulness, ecopsychology, and nature- based methods. She practices and guides meditation and mindfulness sessions within the organisation, at local and international level for 5 years. She is co-author of the book: “Mindfulness and Nature: a toolkit for youthwork” realised during the project KA2 “Mind your Mind: Synergies between mindfulness and nature-based methods”. She is a youth worker and volunteering project coordinator, dealing mostly with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Sandra Horea Sandra is a human development guide and mentor who creatively and heart-fully invites people to be in intimate and meaningful conversations with their Soul. She calls humans to fall in love with nature, metaphor, symbol, feeling and therefore with themselves and live their bigger lives delivering their gift to the hungry world. As a guide, she creates purposeful spaces of self-discovery incorporating in her work her experience regarding depth psychology and soul-based practices, eco-centric development, embodiment, storytelling, poetry and deep imagination. She has a wide experience of 10 years in working with youth and adults in facilitating spaces of personal and community transformation. At the moment she is studying within Animas Valley Institute from the USA and graduated from the Wild Mind Program.

Dora Preszeller Dora has been sharing her passion for education in the past 10+ years organising workshops, facilitating training courses in 11+ countries in Europe and Asia for 2000+ people. She is inviting people to integrate the concept of mindfulness in all aspects of life as a meditation trainer as she studied and worked with Thai Buddhist monks for 2,5 years. As a trainer she shares meditation, effective communication tools, selfempowerment practices and various non-formal educational tools so that everyone can create a sustainable life with more

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balance and peace. Her extensive experience has enabled her to help individuals discover their full potential as a business coach as well. She offers yearly life-transformational retreats worldwide, sharing meditation, DANCEmandala movement meditation, coaching sessions and aquatic bodywork.

tools and good practices for inclusion Timeline of Wholeness : The Four Directions and Subpersonalities Overview This activity is an individual drawing exercise. Participants have to draw a timeline, with all the - for them - importants events in their lives and examine their past through the concept of Bill Plotkin’s Map of Wholeness. While drawing freely, they can realise in which periods of their lives, which of the main four directions and subpersonalities were influencing or dominating. With this overview, the participants can get a better understanding of the concept and make realisations over the influences of our personalities, behaviours and decisions.

Objectives The aim of this activity is to mindfully watch or even analyse our past through the lens of our different personalities, to realise which of our archetypes were dominating in which periods of our lives. Thus, we can get a pattern, we can find solutions, we can have realisations about our decisions, feelings. It can be useful to see if a pattern reoccurs in the future, we can have a better understanding and maybe we’ll be able to behave differently, wholly, selflovingly, with the answers that serve us.

Participants during "From Caterpillar to Butterfly."

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Material paper (big/long), colour pencils

Duration 40-50 minutes (10 minutes sharing time)

Ideal Venue quiet place, where there are enough tables, but the floor can be also used

Tips for Implementation The participants can share their thoughts, show the drawing to others. It can be done in one big group or in smaller groups (3-4 people). The participants need to know the Bill’s Plotkin Map of Wholeness Model.

Authors Dóra Krisztina Vigh

Activity Description We invite the participants to draw a timeline of their past with all the events, which are meaningful for them. They can use colour pencils, they can also write notes, key words, if they feel like it. It’s up to them whether they draw in a theme, for example they concentrate on only the big decisions in their past or only on the best or hardest moments, etc. if they think it is better for them to see a pattern that way.

We put in the middle of the circle big papers and a lot of colour pencils and they use them, they can draw on the floor or in a table. It’s an individual task. After around 40 minutes, we invite them to gather together in one big group or in smaller groups of 3-4 people and they can share their thoughts, how they felt during the exercise, did they find it useful, were they able to see some patterns, etc. They can even comment on the others' drawings. Also, if someone doesn’t want to share, it’s also OK. They can develop their timeline also after the task, anytime if they feel like it.

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A Personal Eulogy Overview The activity is about self discovery and expression

Objectives To allow the person to discover things about themselves, they didn't know prior

Material Pens and papers

Duration Up to 50 minutes

Ideal Venue Indoor, quiet place

Activity Description The facilitator asks the participants to write their own eulogy. The eulogy could have many forms. It could be straight forward or it could be more abstract, like a poem. After 10 or 15 minutes pass, the facilitator asks the participants to divide into groups and talk about their experience and what they wrote. After 15 minutes, they call everyone back to a circle to discuss it briefly as a group.

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Nonverbal Communication Overview The aim of this exercise is to communicate without our main tool - voice.

Participants will wander around the nature in a certain formation and they have to keep it without saying a word.

Objectives The goal of this exercise is to give people a chance to pay more attention to our bodies, facial grimaces.

The participants will experience frustration when team members don’t act in a way they expect. This way, they can communicate using their body.

Material No material needed

Duration From 30 minutes to 120 minutes. Depending on the venue and other exercises.

Ideal Venue Outdoors. Cannot be performed inside.

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Activity Description Participants will form groups of up to 6-8 people Participants will stand in any formation they want. Once they have confirmed that they are happy with their structure, it will be locked in and they have to keep it at all times.

The group will now start moving wherever they want. There are 1-2 supportive facilitators/volunteers who keep an eye on the group and environment.

The formation has to be the same at all times. This means that the group crosses the road in that formation, tie their shoelaces in that formation, everything.

They cannot use any words. If there are cars coming from behind, the volunteers tell the group. The participants don’t have an idea for how long they will be walking either.

The idea is that participants do all the same movements together without talking.

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Me and My Lovely Hidden Overview “Crafting" ourselves only by symbolising our thoughts and feelings, using our imagination

Objectives Create, spend time with ourselves for ourselves, feel free, explore about us

Material Paper and colour markers

Duration 20-30 minutes

Ideal Venue Indoor or outdoor

Activity Description STEPS Phase A : Create 1. Pick your favourite colours and take a paper for you and fold it few cm above (picture) 2. Then pick the top of the paper and fold it again, few cm under (picture) 3. Without unfolding the paper, draw your very personal creature on it. It can be in any shape, in any size. It just has to be yours.

4. When finishing, unfold the paper and take a look at your creature. How does it seem now?

It might seem cut, empty, scary etc. (These were some words that came out of the participants).

But in fact, it now can be bigger, longer, better!

5. Complete your creature by connecting the lines in the way you want.

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Phase B : Fullfil You are now requested to: 1. Draw your favourite habits. It can be whatever makes you feel happy, comfortable when doing that.

2. Draw your fears. The fears that live inside you.

3. Last but not least, now draw your dreams.

Thoughts, ideas, ambitions, longings of yours!

Phase C : Share As soon as you complete your creature, take a look at this and what's now inside it.

Pick the person who is across you (if there is a circle) or near you and share whatever you want to share about your lovely hidden!

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testimonials Our participant’s words describe the impact of this project in their personal and professional growth.

"This program takes you on a journey deep within your own consciousness and psyche. Be prepared to be vulnerable and look into the places you've hid from yourself. Don't worry, the experience and benefit compensate for the pain."

Allan "A course you don't expect. A collective and personal journey that leads you to be a better person."

Giulia

"Addressing the widespread longing for meaning and fulfilment in this time of ecosocial crisis of young europeans, "From Caterpillar to Butterfly" introduces a visionary deep ecopsychology of human development that reveals how fully and creatively we can learn about our psyche when we let soul and wild nature guide us. Wilderness guide Sandra presents Bill Plotkin's model of 'wholeness' for a human life span rooted in the cardinal directions and qualities of the natural world.

Mindfulness and meditation were skilfully intertwined with embodiment and free movement to support learning and authentic listening to the mind by Dora. Sara offered practice support and kindly responded to participants' needs. This was a transformational experience based on non-formal education for individual development that ultimately yields community and cultural transformation."

Helena

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"Luis Sepúlveda in The Story of a Seagull and the Cat Who Taught Her to Fly wrote that "only those who dare may fly". I thought about this sentence a few times during this course which through different practices showed me how I can unlock my full potential. Now this was an invitation, it's up to all of us to dare to bring everything we learnt into our lives. I am grateful to Sara, Sandra and Dora for guiding us through this journey and to the rest of the group for the great empathy and for having taught me a lot about myself in just a few days."

Jacopo "The experience was a journey into Bill Plotkin's eco soul centric model through theory and exercises, using the internal environment and nature and practising meditation. A new way to explore your inner nature and to see things in a different way."

Tommaso "The training allowed me to connect with my authentic self to foster my growth from a caterpillar to a butterfly. The eco psychological activities in this beautiful setting allowed me to become a more wholesome self. The open heartfulness of the group let me arrive and feeling seen and appreciated."

Gabriel "A magical journey to the path of being, feeling, sharing, growing. What matters most is your present, your moment, your willingness, you!"

Eleni "I've listened to people talking poetry, I've seen men showing their deepest emotions, I've been inspired by breathtaking women, I am feeling free, I am feeling myself, I am filled with gratitude and love."

Diana

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"The program "From Caterpillar to Butterfly" helped me reconnect with my inner self. I often forget to think about myself and take self-care in my daily life, leading to stress and tense feelings. During the eight days in Villa Diana, I was reminded of the importance of mindfulness and especially taking time for practices that help me mentally and physically.

Also, I met fantastic people which I can now call my friends. Thank you for the experience!"

Natalie "The world is what we have inside us. Let your soul flourish and you will see the world changing in front of your eyes."

Dimitrios "I feel like I opened my eyes for the first time, but this time I got to look at myself. See myself for who I really am and what I can become. I really wish everyone could experience something like this program, as this and every person in it has offered me so much. Extremely grateful for everything, M.M." Maria "This training was nothing like any other training courses for me, it pushed me and challenged me to be vulnerable, sensitive, self-reflective, self-coherent and it guided me to be my natural and thriving self. The way we, as participants connected with each other, was amazing, so liberating, with no/ less and less judgements. I heard so many touching souls and stories and could resonate with them all. I made great revelations during this project, learnt how to listen to the body and to my four directions. I laughed, cried and danced and loved.<3" Dora "Through this program, I don't know if I became a butterfly, but I know that I can now see how to become one."

Ermioni

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"I feel like this program has been a place where I've gotten in touch with my deep self, and I feel very grateful for this. I feel like I've gained new tools, tools that I can use when I'm stuck with something in my life. I've seen new parts of me, I've been able to share with others, deeply, in ways that normally seem impossible. We got rid of boundaries since the first activity they invited us to do, created a safe space in which we could share anything, felt comfortable with each other. I really feel this is something great. We're all ready to do this, we just need the appropriate circumstances, which we lack in everyday life, and here they were given to us.

I've felt a lot of different feelings, emotions, and been able to live them and express them freely, and to accompany others in their paths too.

It's been a super beautiful experience."

Ermioni "I would honestly say that this program made me a whole new person. I person who is willing to change, adapt and appraise the connectedness with nature aroung me. I now can say that I am healing, evolving and becoming more of what I long for. And therefore I am more capable of helping and teaching others aroung me. There is a lot of gratitude inside me.

Thank you Sandra, Sara and Dora."

Elisabeth

"I feel very grateful to experience this program and collect inspiration and empowerment for my future path as a youth worker."

Tomek

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from caterpillar to butterfly in a few words The training course in a few words by the participants....

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“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” ― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

VulcanicaMente APS Italy, San Cesario di Lecce Project coordinator and trainer: Sara Marzo - vulcanicamente.info@gmail.com Website: www.vulcanicamente.it Facebook: VulcanicaMente Instragram: vulcanicamente_lecce

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From Caterpillar to Butterfly Erasmus+ KA1 Mobility of Youth Workers 2020-1-IT03-KA105-018296