The project arose from the desire of the YE "Find Your Nature" participants (March 2019) to further develop the themes addressed in the first exchange. After embarking on a path for personal development and the search for harmony with others and the planet in which we live, the need arose among the participants to discover how to put into practice values such as listening and respect (for one's own needs, for others and for natural resources) in society. The idea of this exchange therefore emerged with the idea of identifying together an alternative model of society that is based on respect for the natural environment and the enhancement of human relationships. For this specific reason, an ecovillage was chosen as the place to develop the work, focusing the activities on the theme of interpersonal communication. Communication is in fact the fundamental element for building a solid group: when we are in tune with ourselves and with others, the sharing of ideas is stimulated and from the plurality of ideas comes collaboration. This spirit, if embraced by a cohesive group, can lead to the conception of original and innovative projects, rich in humanity and respectful of environmental sustainability. The Needs, Objectives and links with the Erasmus+ objectives on which the project was born and based are as follows: - The high unemployment rate in Europe causes uncertainty and stress about the future, lowering self-esteem and confidence in one's abilities. This inhibits the spirit of initiative and the development of entrepreneurial ideas, which are fundamental elements for entering the labour market. The aim is therefore to create a safe space in which young people can explore and express their creativity and inventiveness, thereby increasing their awareness of their abilities and thus their employability. - We live in an atomised society in which the individual, especially the growing individual, always and only refers to himself, and loses any sense of belonging to the community. The ecovillage as a self-managed community pursuing common goals as an alternative model of sociality. - Generally, moments of emotional malaise or conflict are perceived as negative and therefore avoided. The intention is to provide tools to deal with such moments in such a way as to draw important lessons from them and opportunities to strengthen one's relationship with oneself and with others. - Faced with the ecological challenge of this century, investing in the environmental education of the new generations is fundamental. The ecovillage becomes a model from which to learn valuable lessons. During activities such as farming and the restoration of polluted areas, the children "learn by doing" techniques and knowledge useful for safeguarding the environment. They are also encouraged to reflect on consumption patterns, economic growth and decline, current production models and environmentally sustainable alternatives. Addressing these points increases the children's awareness of environmental issues, encouraging active citizenship actions once they return home. - By organising part of the exchange activities, the participants learn how to design and manage multicultural and dynamic moments of aggregation. - Manual work: The workshops in collaboration with the ecovillage are based on manual activities. Building, planting, cooking, painting, etc. are activities that create something new and original. Creating something satisfies the individual and increases their confidence in their own abilities. In addition, manual dexterity stimulates inventiveness, a useful quality for developing one's own ideas and projects. - Society and the school system tend to put young people in competition with each other. Carrying out activities together, as a team, develops children's collaborative skills and teaches them how to manage the plurality of ideas within a group. - The noise of the city and its hectic pace cause a lot of stress and take people away from listening to their own needs. Spending a few days in a quiet place, surrounded by woods allows you to rediscover a natural rhythm and connect better with your inner self. - The activities are based on experiential and non-formal learning techniques. - All activities are conducted in English, with a view to encouraging the strengthening of this language.
The project has the main intent to allow a group of young people (who have already worked together in the discovery of themselves and connection with nature) to explore and discover how to put into practice in the society that surrounds them values such as listening and respect: of their own needs, of other people and natural resources. This, while sharing spaces and time with a community based on environmental sustainability. The goal of "Build Your Own Surrounding" is to provide young participants with the tools and opportunities to: - discover and enhance personal qualities, in order to increase confidence in one's abilities and therefore the spirit of initiative; - rediscover a sense of belonging to a community, made of people, values, shared goals; - explore moments of emotional malaise or conflict to get useful learnings and create opportunities to strengthen the relationship with the other; - learn positive practices for environmental protection; - reflect on consumption patterns, economic growth and decrease, current production models and eco-sustainable alternatives; - carry out autonomous initiatives based on one's own ideas also outside the project; - putting inventiveness, initiative and entrepreneurship into practice; - develop collaborative skills (team-working); - managing multicultural and dynamic aggregation moments; - find a natural rhythm and connect better with their inner life.