Design Thinking and Individual Creativity with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Economic and Social Crisis: A project for Supporting Women with Physical Disability and Female Caregivers of Disabled Person at Home Erasmus Project

Project Title

Design Thinking and Individual Creativity with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Economic and Social Crisis: A project for Supporting Women with Physical Disability and Female Caregivers of Disabled Person at Home

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Creativity

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Creativity and culture; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

”Creativity with MBCT’ project is a program to enhance the ability and creativity of women with a physical disability and female caregivers of disabled individuals at home for psychosocial and economic independence and sustainability. The project aimed to increase their well-being by Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with guided meditation tools, which help to attain maximum self-satisfaction and better guidance. It is also providing various opportunities to ensure their economic freedom and potential development through creativity and innovative arts. Translating this potential into real values will contribute to the development of both individual and society as a whole, and it increases the inclusiveness and sustainability. Project partnership consists of 6 institutions from 5 countries. with a duration of 24 months. The partnership includes the following institutions; Turkey, Istanbul Gelişim University; Greece, Greek Carers Network EPIONI; Italy, Consorzio Cooperative Sociali SGS Servizi Globali Sociosanitari; Spain, Kairós Sociedad Cooperativa de Iniciativa Social; France, GIP Formation Continue Et Insertion Professionnelle De L Academie De Creteil; and Turkey, Belikdüzü Municipality.
Target groups of the project;
1. Physically disabled women
2. Women who are family members who care for disabled individuals in their homes

The specific aims of the project;
1.Helping to improve mental health status employing psychosocial distress experienced by both women with physical disabilities and female caregivers of disabled individuals at home, especially during crisis periods, and to improve their well-being
2. Introduce new methods and innovative tools offered in adult education, in order to eliminate barriers to access creative education and enhancing the skills of the target group and thereby increasing their level of participation in income generative activities
3. Improving the design thinking skills and creativity of the target group, to encourage innovative production and marketing
4. Developing the knowledge and skills of the target audience on digital entrepreneurship
5. Contributing to the effective use of world resources and sustainability targets
6. Contributing to the smart, sustainable and inclusive economies of societies

The objectives of the project;
1. To assess the mental health status of women with disability and female caregivers of the person with a disability and implement strategies to enhance mental health with Mind fullness cognitive therapy
2. To Establishing a digital education platform on design-oriented thinking and individual creativity structured with “mindfulness-based cognitive therapy” method, which is an innovative method, and teaching women to make innovative production
3. To create an ecosystem through a digital forum that enables women with physical disability and female caregiver of a disabled individual at home in order to encourage creativity and innovations among for sustainability
4. To impart entrepreneurial skills, which enhance the economic independence and social inclusion of the target group
5. To Promote recycling awareness and sustainable livelihood practices

The output of the project;
1. Qualitative study to be conducted to identify the current needs of the target audience addressed by the project and to identify the lack of information about the opportunities in the EU regions covered by the project
2. Digital forum where professionals, trainers, artists and experts from different disciplines working with disabled people can share experiences and information and also mentor and lead individuals with disabilities
3. Curriculum on design thinking and individual creativity structured with awareness-based cognitive therapy method
4. Creating Open access portal
5. Pilot implementation of digital education at the national level

The results of the project;
1. Enhanced mental health status and well-being among women with a disability and female caregivers of PWD at home with “mindfulness-based cognitive therapy”.
2. Innovative digital platform on design-oriented thinking and individual creativity structured with “mindfulness-based cognitive therapy” method
3. Processes of collaborative learning and participatory training will increase the design thinking with creativity and innovative art production
4. Enhancing the process of social inclusion of women with a physical disability and their caregivers by providing economic independence and sustainable livelihood practices
5. Emergence of women entrepreneurs with improved employability skills.

Creativity with MBCT project is a platform, is based on the principle of sustainability and self-determination, which mentoring the civic participation and psychosocial and economic rejuvenations among the target group lead partner is responsible for building a qualified communication bridge between the project partners because the success of international projects depends on transparency.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 197762 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istanbul Gelisim Universitesi & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Kairós Sociedad Cooperativa de Iniciativa Social
• Consorzio Cooperative Sociali SGS Servizi Globali Sociosanitari
• GIP FORMATION CONTINUE ET INSERTION PROFESSIONNELLE DE L ACADEMIE DE CRETEIL
• Beylikdüzü Belediyesi
• Greek Carers Network EPIONI
• Pmi Services Soc. Coop. arl.