THE NATURE OF COMMUNITY – Rediscovering the Inherited Bonds
ERASMUS + CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
Training course for Youth workers
THE NATURE OF COMMUNITY – Rediscovering the Inherited Bonds
Ecovillage Torri Superiore, Italy
21-30 November 2024
For more information read below
About the project
FINDING THE LOST PATHS is an international training course aimed to people who consider themselves – or strive to become – agents of cultural (r)evolution and social transformation. Humans who, with their daily actions, are models in their community and leaders of the awakening and change in the world. People who are ready to turn their look inwards and explore everything – light and dark – that is in their hearts and souls.
RATIONALE
The need for CONNECTION is basic for every being in the ecosystem. Meaningful connection is essential for every human being. Everything is what it is as a result of its relations with all other things. Dominant-materialistic-industrial culture destroyed connection of the people with their inner inherited wisdom, wild nature, spiritual world, emotions and imagination, dreams and visions and our place in more-than-human world.
The values of consumerism, conformity and industrial growth that rule today’s Western society have proven to be toxic and destructive to the Big Web of Life of which humans are an integral part. By destroying ecosystems and using nature as a mere resource for personal profit, we are not only destroying the future of our children and grandchildren, but already negatively impacting many people’s life today.
Humanity needs an urgent change, to transform this world of deepening inequality, violence, addictions and continuing disconnection from nature (both external and internal), into one based on peace, equality, real freedom, and connection to ourselves, others and the rest of the natural world.
There is a need for people who, through their actions, demonstrate a life based on ecocentric values. People creating and affirming a life-enhancing culture, who inspire future generations of youth for psychological, spiritual and professional growth in harmony with nature. People laying the foundation for a future built on environmental justice, deep spirituality, compassion and acceptance.
OBJECTIVES
The training will provide innovative ways and methods to address the developmental needs for belonging, meaningful connection, authenticity and purpose, and take steps towards personal transformation in a more wholesome and connected way. It will also aim at empowering the participants to offer these methods to the various groups and individuals they work with and become agents of visionary change within their communities.
- To develop participant’s knowledge in nature-based human development by learning and practicing the principles and models of eco-centric development.
- To develop new skills, competences and ideas in facilitating the development of meaningful connection and authentic relating.
- To provide an opportunity to experience a space of safety, intimacy, and profound connection in which personal exploration is encouraged and supported by community.
- To engage and guide participants through innovative processes of personal transformation.
- To inspire in the participants a shift in values and worldviews that will foster empathy to all creatures and a sense of oneness with all human and non-humans.
- To support participant’s connection to their sense of responsibility for the environment and Earth’s future.
VENUE
The mediaeval village of Torri Superiore is a small jewel of popular architecture located at the foothill of the Ligurian Alps, a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea and the French border, close to the coastal town of Ventimiglia. Originating in the thirteenth century, the village is structured in three main bodies with more than 160 rooms, all connected by an intricate fabric of stairways.
Its complex structure has often been compared to a fortress or a labyrinth, perched on the mountainside. The village has been entirely restored and is now open to ecotourism, for courses, meetings and programs of environmental education, and offers accommodation for stays and vacations.
For its character of historical complex, unfortunately the ecovillage is not completely accessible. Please take this into account when planning your participation.
THE PROJECT IS FOR YOU IF…
This program is for people who are working in the field of inclusion, social support, youth work, or mentoring. These could be non-formal educators, youth workers, psychologists, schoolteachers, career counselors, wilderness guides, or anyone involved in supporting or guiding the development of a person. Most importantly, the program is for people who have a hunger and readiness to look at their own personal transformation with a view to thereafter offer their gifts to others. Participants also need to have an interest or curiosity for nature and the wild outdoors as this will be a pillar method and they will spend a week immersed in a natural environment.
You can apply for this training course if you are resident of any EU Member state (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, France, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden) or any of the associated with the Erasmus + Programme countries (North Macedonia, Serbia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey).
Participants must be over 18 years and have a good level of English as the entire course will be in English.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE
If you want to participate in this training course, we invite you to fill in the application form available at this link: APPLICATION FORM
The deadline for applications submission is 15 September 2024 (included).
Detailed Call for participants – INFOPACK
GUIDES TEAM
OGNIAN GADOULAROV (Bulgaria) is a passionate naturalist, rock climber, and expert in wildlife, birds, and forests. For 11 years, he has been working in the field of non-formal education and personal development.
Ognian supports people to unfold their full potential in life and to discover themselves. He is a guide with interests and experience in meditation, yoga, and energy practices. His favorite topics are personal development, self-discovery, responsible consumption, human-nature reciprocity. He lives as an activist for cultural evolution, re-sacredtising life and reconnecting people with more-than-human-world. As a participant in the Great Turning, he likes to be known as Fire of Life and The Tree Listener, dedicated to the Great work for fair future for all living and nonliving beings on Earth.
Оgnian is part of Nature-based Wholing and Self-healing Wild Mind Training Programme (WMTP) at Bill Plotkin’s Animas Valley Institute, Colorado, USA.
TONI MALLACH (Sweden) is a violinist, dancer and connection weaver. They are a curious human being, fascinated by communication: telling stories through dance and music, finding stories through improvisation theatre and listening to stories through community building practices such as deep listening and non-violent communication.
Toni dreams of a social and ecological regeneration of human society and planet Earth. They wish for humanity to find back into the ecological system. This dream led them to live in an eco-community and to become part of the Global Ecovillage Network. With the aim of spreading new ways of Being, they share their passion as a trainer and facilitator. Their life mission is to create spaces for love and laughter, for feeling and expressing, listening and holding and daring to step into the unknown.
Toni holds a masters degree in classical music performance from the Royal conservatory of Brussels and an Ecovillage Design Certificate from Gaia Education.