POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
positive psychology in youth work
Training Course organized by Salvaj ASD (Italy)
A short description of the Training Course:
Childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for laying the foundations for healthy personal development and mental well-being. There is compelling evidence that active promotion of flourishing and mental well-being through prevention interventions, when implemented effectively, can reduce risk factors for mental disorders and enhance protective factors for good mental and physical health. Improved flourishing leads to lasting positive effects on a range of personal, educational, social and economic outcomes for young people.
Positive psychology (PP) is a relatively new branch of psychology that offers an effective framework to promote a sustainable development for flourishing and mental health of youngsters. PP uses scientific understanding and effective (non-formal) interventions to aid in the active promotion of optimal personal development rather than treating mental illnesses. Typical topics of interest are: states of pleasure or flow, values, strengths, virtues, talents, compassion, optimism, resilience and intrinsic motivation. Besides this interest in the promotion of personal development, there is considerable concern with creating the ideal circumstances for individuals to thrive, through promotion of supportive social systems, positive relations, positive experiences and positive institutions. Through the promotion of programs that make use of the elements of PP, gender inequalities and negative stereotypes surrounding minority ethnic groups can be addressed and combated.
What will you learn?
Since this project has a great focus on the practical side of PP for youth work. The participants will learn how they can design an experiential and non-formal project for youth that facilitates and stimulates personal development. They will learn that in the first place by experiencing themselves several exercises and next learn how they can design/apply these methods in their youth work by creating new projects that are based on the method customized to their target group. Participants will learn to cooperate with other youth workers from different cultures and improve their skills in designing good quality projects for the enhancement of mental health of youth through the use of the method of positive psychology. This will result in an increased empowerment and level of self-efficacy of the participants to apply the acquired competences into their own organizations.
Objectives for this Training Course:
- To develop participants' competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) and methodologies to improve the quality of their youth work;
- To provide participants with tools and exercises to implement the elements of positive psychology in their youth work;
- To increase a broader understanding among participants on the practices of youth work across Europe;
- To establish and provide participants with a network opportunity to increase the internationalization of their youth work (within the
framework of Erasmus+).
When & where?
Venue: Cascina Monteoliveto Cortemilia, CN, Italy
Arrival date: 8th of September 2019
Departure date: 14th September 2019
Participating countries: Italy, Hungary, Ireland, Spain,The Netherlands, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia
Participants: 3 participants per country = 24 in total
Responsible for organizing:
Thomas Albers
Travels:
You are required to arrange your own travels to Italy once you've been selected. We expect you to be in the Milan Central train station (Milano Centrale) on the 8th of September before or no later than 18:00 from where we have arranged for a private bus to pick you up. It is very important that you are there by that time as all participants will be traveling together and finding a separate solution for stranded participants is very costly and time exhaustive. The location where we will meet, Cascina Monteoliveto, is situated in North-West Italy. We recommend you fly to either of the Milan/Bergamo airports and make your way to the main train station by shuttle buses.There will be again a private bus from Cortemilia to Milano Centrale on the 14th of September with an estimated arrival time at 10am, so pls book your tickets with this in mind. In case of doubt or difficulties, please contact us.
Accommodation:
Our overnight stays will be at the location where gender mixed dormitories are available. The number of participants per room varies, each room has at least one private bathroom. There are bunkbeds in good condition and blankets and bed linen will be provided (but towels not!).The activities that we will employ will be held both indoors and outdoors.
Food:
The meals will be mainly vegetarian and with as much as possible local food. There is a supermarket approximately 15 minutes walk from the location which you are welcome to visit during your free time but we recommend that you already bring with you anything you need for your stay. If you have any specific dietary needs (or a vegan, vegetarian or glutenfree, lactose intolerant etc.), please inform us, so we can prepare for it.
We will not provide any alcoholic drinks.
About the trainers:
The course will be facilitated by a team of three trainers that have experience in training social and youth workers. The team will consist of Laura Weiss PhD who has done extensive research on enhancing mental health in vulnerable groups. She currently works as a University Researcher in South Africa and has worked for the Happiness Academy in the Netherlands. She will be assisted by Thomas Albers, a psychologist with a special focus on nature as a means to enhance well-being and Sebastian Weesjes, a personal development and leadership coach.
Costs of the Training Course:
You have to organize your own travels to Milano Centrale in advance and you will be reimbursed by Salvaj Association (main organizer of the exchange) after the training course. The project is partly funded by Erasmus+ and there is a participation fee of €75 per participant to cover for the remaining costs of the exchange. We also require €50 for the private bus but this amount will be deducted from your maximum travel budget. For all participants (except Italians) this means that there is a maximum of €225 travel budget (excluding the participation fee) available per person.
According to the regulations of Erasmus+ you are allowed to travel 2 days earlier and later than the selected dates of the exchange. This means that your travel costs will still be reimbursed for this period. However, any additional costs that you make because of your extended stay will NOT be covered or reimbursed. In case of doubt, please contact us. For the reimbursement of the travel cost you will have to use our reimbursement form (you will receive this shortly before the start of the course) and send this in after the course including copies of booking confirmation with prices, boarding passes and tickets. After the course you will also be asked to send us an evaluation form to reflect on the training course and a proof of dissemination of your project participation. We will only reimburse when all documentation has been received.
Accommodation and food
The costs of accommodation and food of the exchange will be covered by ERASMUS+ and Salvaj, but only for your stay at the venue during the time of the course. If you come a day earlier to the venue or leave later, the additional costs will not be covered and you have to pay for the extra expenses. Food expenses during your travel will not be covered.
Participant's profile:
We are looking for participants of 18+ years old who meet the following criteria:
- Youth workers with experience in the field of well being, personal development and a strong interest in learning new competences about enhancing the quality of their work.
- Youth workers with experience in European projects with interest in new Erasmus+ Projects and motivated to create initiatives with a strong impact for young people and their communities.
Additionally, we require:
- A proper level of English proficiency in order to active participants
- Seriousness of profession and willingness to learn about participants
There is no age limit and naturally the participants should be related to the partner organization to be able to be selected.
Practicalities:
• Taking care of your EU-health insurance that covers any medical expenses during your stay in Italy is your own responsibility. Any costs that you have to make regarding travel or cancellation insurances for your visit to Italy cannot be reimbursed. However we highly recommend you to arrange a travel and cancellation insurance. Please also request the EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (it's free of charge).
• The weather in September is usually warm during the day and can be a little chilly in the evenings. However, the climate and the weather are getting quite unpredictable. We recommend you to check the weather forecasts prior to your travel, so you can bring proper clothes. Bring a sweater for the evenings!
• There is NO WiFi access at the location
• Please bring your own towel!
• Also pls bring a mug with a fun picture on it (mugs will be exchanged with other participants on the last day)
• You will need to bring your European Health Insurance card (Free of charge, request online at national health service)
• On the first evening of the training we have an organizations' bazar. All participants are invited to present their organizations to the fellow participants. Please prepare yourself and bring anything that can help you to show what your organization does, who its target group is and where you are located. You will probably find interesting new partner organizations.
Questions and doubts:
For Spanish candidates - for any questions and doubts you may refer to Magdalena Jarmoc: magda.euroaccion@gmail.com