Programme & action: ERASMUS+, Key Action 1: Training course
Venue: Ganties, France
Dates: 18 – 28 September 2018
Participants: Andrej Dobeš (trenér), Zuzana Kovaříková, Matěj Valenta, Ondřej Hrdý, Hana Kovačicová, Tereza Luňáková
Please read the info-pack and TC project topic specific websites: https://mindfulyouthwork.wixsite.com/mindful & https://www.facebook.com/MindfulnessinYouthWork
Participating countries: France, Estonia, Italy, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Romania, Cyprus and Poland
Hosting organisation: SOL Afrika
Project report:
In the second half of September, 6 adventurers from Czechia and Slovakia joined a training course called Mind Your Body that took place in a small village Ganties in southern France. The project started on the 18th of September and people from 8 European countries were able to participate (France, Estonia, Italy, Macedonia, Czech Republic (+ Slovakia), Romania, Cyprus and Poland).
The objective of the project was to introduce basic mindfulness through
body based methods and creative approaches, while experiencing how mindfulness can be helpful in personal and professional life.
The very first day, we got to know each other through joyful activities and created our own “Facebook profiles” on paper, where we could share what interests us and learn what interests others. We were introduced to the topic of mindfulness and in the evening, we had a French cultural night.
The next day was focused on our body. We danced and did a little meditation called “Body scan.” At night, we shared our national food and drinks with other countries.
On the third day, the topic was “Mind”. We did Tai-Chi, another meditation and after lunch we created our own journal. Then we went to Toulouse also known as “Pink city”, where we had a dinner and seen a Brass festival.
During the next days we were also having a picnic, swimming in a lake, doing yoga, meditating, acting and hiking in beautiful mountains.
On the day seven, we made a groups of two and three and were coming up with activities for local children in the age of 8-11. The next day, we formed bigger groups of seven and eight and did the activities with kids.
The project ended on Friday, 28th of September. Overall, the project was very well organised. The weather was nice, and we all agreed at the end that the project changed our lives for the better. Hereby, I’d like to say thank you to both organisations (EYCB and SOL Afrika) and the organizers for making this possible.
Ondřej Hrdý