Family education “MeTURA-Back to the Roots”, therapeutic family gardening and therapeutic family cooking for independent life of adult family members with intelectual disabillities Erasmus Project

Project Title

Family education “MeTURA-Back to the Roots”, therapeutic family gardening and therapeutic family cooking for independent life of adult family members with intelectual disabillities

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 : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Research and innovation; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Based on the perceived needs of lifelong learning (LLL) educators of families and their adult family members with intellectual disabilities (AFMID) in partner countries Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and the United Kingdom, the project developed MeTURA-Back to Roots Family Education as an innovatively effective individualized learning methodology and an opportunity to develop the basic knowledge, personal and social skills of families and AFMID for their greater independence and less dependence on institutions. The learning process takes place in an innovative, friendly, accessible learning environment that connects the classroom-family therapeutic gardening-family therapeutic cooking. It enables personalized LLL of families and AFMID in the institution (classroom, adapted garden, adapted kitchen) of adult education or as guided self-education of families and AFMID in the home environment (family garden, home kitchen). This brings the educational offer closer to home. The project addresses LLL educators of vulnerable adults, families (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncle, aunt), their AFMID, AE institutions, the relevant public as equal target groups. During the project, we developed learning tools and strengthened the knowledge of educators, which enables the permanent implementation of the MeTURA Family Education (86 qualified educators). In the project, we performed a multi-layered analysis of learning needs and based on five Studies developed tangible andragogic tools: MeTURA Methodology, MeTURA Andragogy Materials and MeTURA Family Education Guide, we also made a video documentary about the project. They were developed based on the findings of the Studies on Barriers and Potentials of Family LLL in the Context of Therapeutic Family Gardening and Cooking, on Effective Motivational Support Methods for Greater Engagement of Families and AFMID in Social Inclusion, on Key Competences skills and literacy of AFMID. Developed learning tools and acquired knowledge were tested by educators, families and AFMID during the life of the project in 29 pilot workshops for AFMID and 6 for educators, the activities were attended by 179 people with intellectual disabilities and 69 organizations. Learning tools are freely available and supported by digitization, produced in English, Slovenian, Italian and Croatian. The developed tools also have the MeTURA Family Education appendix for self-education of families, which is technically and substantively adapted to the AFMID (pictorial, easy to read). As the family is the one who supports AFMID in active involvement in learning and wider society, the basic purpose of MeTURA Family Education is the education of the whole family, not just AFMID. As both educators and learning families and AFMID participated in the project activities, the MeTURA Methodology solves the actual needs of educators in direct reflection of learning families and AFMID (interactive experiential learning). Project activities included: learning in classrooms with a computer, practical therapeutic gardening and cooking, lectures, interviews, visits of good practices, participation in multiplicative events, self-evaluation of knowledge of educators, families and AFMID, international project meetings and joint training of educators. Established solid complementary cross-sectoral synergy of stakeholders in the field of adult education, especially those working with the target group of people with disabilities, gives the project a supportive environment for the implementation of MeTURA-Back Family Education. Targeted educators in project activities and developed andragogic tools enable families to more easily cope with diversity and thus easier social activation of all family members in learning and the environment, friendly acquisition and self-evaluation of high quality basic and life skills (planning, responsibility, perseverance, physical activity, planting planning according to the required crops for the preparation of daily meals, connecting family members, planning the future). Project activities are guided by a “simulated” daily independent life with the help of an educator and a learning tool for independent work, which helps the individual in those works when he is unable to do them himself. The common red thread is taking care of yourself. AFMID is given the opportunity to demonstrate its skills, support tools, and empowered family members and educators serve as guided learning assistance in those tasks that are too demanding for it. The project strengthened the social conditions for the active participation of families and AFMID for their full social emancipation. Project activities were supported by the media and visible through FB and project websites (165 posts), partners and a wide network of associated partners.

Project Website

https://www.erasmus-metura.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 159310,48 Eur

Project Coordinator

Izobrazevalni center Geoss d.o.o. & Country: SI

Project Partners

• The Society for Horticultural Therapy Known as Thrive
• CENTRO PER LO SVILUPPO CREATIVO DANILO DOLCI
• Zveza Sozitje
• Udruga osoba s invaliditetom Karlovačke županije