The "Walking on Inner Pathways" project aimed to (1) assist adult educators at risk of burnout and (2) support disadvantaged adult learners, including the unemployed, disabled, and those in rural areas. This was achieved through two residential sessions, the creation of easy-to-use tools, and guidelines on long-term walking programs. The project focused on enhancing resilience, well-being, and workforce integration. The primary objectives were to empower both adult educators and learners with effective methods to extend their careers and improve their mental health. We created two key results: Guidelines on (Overnight) Walking (112 pages) and we developed 15 easy-to-use resilience tools and produced an artistic documentary (6 mins) about the experience, serving as an inspiration for future walking programs. These results will help promote sustainable mental health practices and resilience within adult education and learning environments.
We applied for this project to address the increasing challenges faced by helping professionals, particularly adult educators, who had experienced higher burnout rates due to global trends like economic&political crises and emotional tolls from working with vulnerable populations. These professionals often struggled with mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and trauma. Our project aimed to support these professionals through training in resilience and well-being, providing them with tools to cope with these challenges. The project emerged from feedback collected during the "Your Heart Beats" KA2 project. The three organizations created a common method based on walking and the use of cultural heritage from a given landscape, which was used to promote mental health benefits. This method was designed to be easily replicated and applied in any country, especially with the use of the results we delivered. By incorporating methods like Heartland Online Courses, Inner Pathways Seminar, and Pilgrimages to Sustainability training, we offered a comprehensive approach to fostering personal and professional resilience.