The "7th Sense" project was created to provide an innovative, non-formal learning space for youth workers, young people, and those who regularly engage with youth. It offers a mind-body toolkit designed to help youth workers navigate the emotional and psychological challenges of their profession while equipping them with practical methods to support young people in their personal and social development. Youth workers play a crucial role in fostering safe, inclusive, and empowering environments for young people. However, they often face burnout, emotional exhaustion, and a lack of tools for self-regulation when working with youth in challenging contexts. At the same time, young people today struggle with uncertainty, social exclusion, and emotional dysregulation, particularly in a world that is rapidly changing due to socio-political, technological, and economic shifts. Many youth exhibit negative behavioral patterns in environments where they feel powerless, while others lack the confidence and expressive outlets to share their ideas, creativity, and emotions. Through in-depth discussions with our partner organizations, it became clear that current youth work practices often prioritize verbal and cognitive approaches while neglecting embodied and experiential methods that could significantly enhance self-regulation, emotional intelligence, and resilience. Self regulation is essentially the ability to control and adapt our emotions, thoughts, and ultimately our behavior to meet the demand of any situation. Yet, neurobiology tells us that we can only control what we can perceive. In other words, if I can’t sense my current state of being, I can’t begin to skillfully control or regulate that state physically or emotionally (Susan Bauer – The Embodied Teen). If young people are disconnected from their physical and emotional states, they struggle to manage stress, adapt to change, and interact effectively with others. Building on the success of our previous E+ project, emBODYme, this initiative focuses on integrating somatic training, mindfulness, movement, and creative expression into youth work. These modalities have been shown to: - Enhance emotional resilience and self-regulation among young people. - Provide youth workers with practical strategies for stress management and co-regulation with their groups. - Support young people in expressing themselves in non-verbal ways, which is particularly beneficial for those who struggle with traditional, talk-based reflection methods (e.g., neurodivergent youth, trauma-affected individuals). - Create inclusive and engaging learning environments by tapping into embodied intelligence. The project will: - Equip youth workers with somatic and expressive tools to improve self-care and increase their professional impact. - Help young people develop self-awareness and emotional adaptability through body-based practices, enabling them to overcome challenges and pursue personal and professional goals. - Increase access to embodied learning for young people with fewer opportunities, including those facing socio-economic, geographic, or systemic barriers. - Foster collaboration among partner organizations, integrating embodiment methodologies into youth work for more effective learning experiences. - Promote the Youthpass as a self-evaluation and recognition tool, ensuring that participants reflect on and validate their learning outcomes. To achieve these objectives, "7th Sense" will unfold in three key phases: - Local Preparation Phase – Participants engage in foundational learning and preparation activities. - International Training Course – A hands-on, experiential program where youth workers explore and practice embodied, somatic and expressive methodologies. - Local Implementation & Online Support – Participants apply their new skills in their communities, with continued mentorship and digital resources. The project will run for 12 months, allowing time for implementation and evaluation. To ensure the sustainability of outcomes, all methodologies and tools developed will be documented in a practical manual booklet, which will be distributed across our networks to support continued learning and application in youth work settings. By integrating body-based learning into youth work, "7th Sense" aims to contribute to and enhance non-formal education practices, empowering both youth workers and young people to cultivate resilience, adaptability, and meaningful self-expression in today’s world.