Participation to a European training on Mental Health and Youth Work

"Hope For Children" CRC Policy Center participates to the training course "Stress? No, thanks. Youth workers in balance, ready for youth challenges" that will take in Marbella, Spain, from 16th to 23rd October. Two of our employees are representing Cyprus in this project, coordinated by Gantalcalá (Spain), in cooperation with organizations from 11 different countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia.  

The project aims to promote youth participation, focusing on improving the mental health and skills of youth workers in various areas of Europe after the worsening caused by covid-19. 

The course activities are divided into 4 blocks: 

• The activities of Block 1 will be carried out mainly through non-formal learning methodologies, such as small group and general group work, moments of reflection, "Theory of Change" methodology, debates, graphic presentations, audio-visual presentations, digital graphic design, networking, exchange of good practices, theatrical performances and "Theatre of the Oppressed" technique. 
• The activities of Block 2 will be mainly carried out through techniques of self-knowledge and personal and spiritual development, such as Mindfulness, yoga, the Amaranta Method and Biodanza, in addition to the components of open air and connection with nature.  
• The activities of Block 3 will be developed through energizers, team-building, folkloric representations and, gastronomic tasting, cultural visits and contact with local agents.  
• Finally, the activities of Block 4 will be those destined to the evaluation and reflection on the learning obtained. 

The measure expected to have the greatest positive transformation in the development of work in the youth sector will be "The Stress? No, thanks SEAL", a digital decalogue developed by the youth workers during the course, that will include guidelines, best practices, and references to attitudes, behaviors and skills development to establish a stress-free and "mental health friendly" environment in their workspaces. 

This project it is co-financed by the EU, under the Action KA153 of the Erasmus + Programme.