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Collective Intelligence for Regenerating Cultures & Living

2023-1-FR02-KA153-YOU-0001331402023Mobility of youth workersongoing
Countries: FR|EL|IT|MT|UA|SK · Grant: €47,236
Green skillsEnvironment and climate changeDemocracy and inclusive democratic participation

Objectives

C.I.R.C.L.E was a training organised by the SCOP La ZESTE in partnership with 5 European associations (Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovakia and Ukraine). It took place at Les RAYES at St-Geniez in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur from 09/19/23 to 09/28/23. The main topics were local resilience in knowledge and practices focused on regenerative hydrology, permaculture, agroecology and agroforestry. We carried out this project because we have identified local issues around the thematics of water, climate, drought, soil depletion which are due to global warming. For example, our location is on a slope and due to the Mediterranean climate, alternating between drought and flooding, does not retain the water that carries the arable soil towards the rivers and then the seas. We wanted to find local solutions by gathering youth workers and trainers to think together about tools, skills and resilient lifestyles to fight against it. Nowadays people are too far from the possibilities to be involved in this change. We intended to change this by empowering youth workers. Day after day between theory and practical workshops they acquired skills and knowledge to participate in the agroecological transition, which they are now applying in their own country in their project with young people. Morning time was dedicated to theory, working with tools such as IKIGAI, graphics, slide shows and diagrams to help them to understand the concepts of permaculture, soil succession, water cycles, agroforestry, etc. Afternoons were dedicated to put into practice what they had learned such as the creation of swales, a calade and fascines, walks in the forest to study the soil and the use of tools for keyline design, etc. To apply all this knowledge and practises, we collaborated with PermaLab, a design office in regenerative agriculture, hydrology and in permaculture. They assist individuals, groups, professionals, farmers and communities in the design and development of their land, farm and territory in France and abroad. Moreover, they already assisted numerous Erasmus+ all around Europe. Beforehand, we co-created a design with PermaLab to slow down the water runoff, so that the soil would go back to a sponge-like state and water could be stored within. The idea was to find a way of keeping the water falling in our soil. This design was used as a teaching tool during the seminar with our 29 participants. One of the project’s objectives was to reinforce links across Europe to create a cohesion on the youth work practice. We promoted cooperation and mobility with the EU's partner countries, encouraging youth workers to take part in European democracy values by the multicultural dimension of our training. This project also aimed to respond to the very worrying issue of unemployment. Skills and knowledge provided, allowed youth workers to be more efficient on the labour market. Our trainers, involved and raised youth workers’ awareness in the fight against global warming through non-formal sustainable education such as permaculture conception (ethics and principles of design / design elements into a system, / zone and sector analysis), hydrology (water management principles, design for water and how to apply it in La ZESTE project), keyline design, water caption and storage. Concepts of agroforestry were introduced such as dynamic rotational grazing with our horses in order to develop farming as a soil regenerative tool. These aims fitted with local needs to reforest a portion of old grazed land and accelerate succession for areas undergoing natural reforestation, to create agroecological facilities to preserve soil health and biodiversity and last but not least to define areas dedicated to grazing and to preserve wetlands. The training was completed with informal activities like morning and evening talking circles, theater exercises, peer exchanges, energizers, pizza night, hiking but also with themed evenings focused on the multicultural dimension especially through typical dishes from each country and also with dances such as the French folk ball. Moreover, these activities enhanced personal development, self-esteem, initiative and group cohesion. All these different non-formal and informal activities raised awareness on alternative lifestyle models, more sustainable and resilient. It also enhanced inclusion, diversity and European values. Moreover, to anchor the group cohesion and to raise awareness about values such as inclusion, benevolence and listening, we dedicated a full day to the Collective Intelligence (CI) and the Shared Governance (SG) tools with the LICA. LICA is an action-research laboratory that aims to test, deploy and couple collective intelligence and digital tools to respond to the challenges of our contemporary world and co-create collective, inclusive and sustainable projects. Last but not least, we welcomed people with fewer opportunities (PFOs) at least one per country and especially women facing the war in Ukraine.

Project partners (6)