We are designing the project “The Listening Body” in response to worrying patterns we observe among young people today. More and more, they seem to be losing touch with themselves and with others around them. Research shows that young people spend a significant amount of time in front of screens: on average between 7 - 8 hours a day, which is linked to increased anxiety, sleep disruption and depression. This trend of over-connection to technology but disconnection from real life has consequences. It reduces opportunities for authentic face-to-face relationships, weakens social health, and distances young people from their own bodies and physical activity. As a result, we see higher risks of mental health challenges (such as depression and anxiety) and physical problems (including obesity, sleep issues, and general inactivity). We believe that youth work offers meaningful and creative ways to respond to this situation. Through “The Listening Body”, our aim is to support youth workers in exploring methods that help young people rebuild and strengthen three levels of connection: with themselves, with others, and with their own bodies. We are taking the holistic approach - focusing on the whole body, on nonverbal and verbal communication and contact, as a way of supporting people in having healthy relationships with themselves and with others. To do this, we chose to combine two complementary approaches: Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and embodiment practices (such as contact improvisation and other somatic practices). Together, these methods offer concrete tools to address the challenges mentioned above. They also enable youth workers themselves to develop new competences, so they can better understand and respond to the needs of young people today. OBJECTIVES Through their participation in the project, youth workers will: - Build knowledge of the main principles of Nonviolent Communication. - Improve their capacity to recognize the feelings and needs behind actions and to express these clearly to others. - Strengthen their ability to show empathy and to integrate empathic approaches into their work with young people. - Enhance their skills in addressing conflicts and misunderstandings, applying a “connection before correction” mindset. - Explore embodiment practices such as contact improvisation and body-mind centering, learning to use them as tools for reconnecting with their own bodies and supporting young people to do the same. - Increase their motivation to actively promote both mental and physical well-being through youth work. - Gain practical methods and resources for engaging with young people and discover how to integrate these into their daily professional practice