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Mindfulness for Tolerance

2019-3-PL01-KA105-0776042019Youth mobilityfinalized
Countries: PL|IT|AM|RO|AL|UA|GE|RS|BY|EL · Grant: €18,538.28
Ethics, religion and philosophy (incl. Inter-religious dialogue)Integration of refugeesInclusion - equity

Objectives

Mindfulness can often describe as “the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment”. Nowadays, it is widely used all over the world as a form of a relaxation techniques, as well as to reduce stress, or even depression or anxiety. We deeply believe, that Mindfulness can be also used as a tool to contribute towards tolerance and cultural intelligence. We often do our activities ‘on autopilot’ (e.g. brushing our teeth). Our thoughts are often guided in the same way. On the one hand, it helps our brain to cope with incredibly big amount of information, by categorizing it with such ‘mental scripts’. On the other hand, however, not being aware of this, and not being mindful (thus, allowing our minds to work on an automatic mental process) leads to stereotypes and prejudice, also towards people from other cultures and countries (e.g. immigrants). Therefore, we believe that being aware of our own ‘mental scripts’ and being mindful of them (&realizing them and the process around it), can greatly contribute for being more tolerant and mindful for other people, and fight stereotypes and prejudice. Even though some of youth workers from our organizations, already know the concept of Mindfulness, and try (to various extend and with various success) introduce it in their own personal life, we have never yet used Mindfulness in our work with youth, neither using it as a tool for promotion of tolerance and combating stereotypes and prejudice. Therefore, aims of this training for youth workers are as follow: - To equip youth workers with knowledge and practical skills of the Mindfulness technique. - Discuss and discover how Mindfulness can be used to stop ‘working on mental pilot’ thus combating stereotypes and prejudice towards people from other cultures and countries (e.g. immigrants). - Develop tools (lessons scenarios) for using Mindfulness for promotion of tolerance and cultural intelligence / cultural awareness.

Project partners (10)