MINDtheYOUTH: A Mindfulness training for youth workers to improve the mental health and well being of young people Erasmus Project

Project Title

MINDtheYOUTH: A Mindfulness training for youth workers to improve the mental health and well being of young people

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 youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy)

Project Summary

Mindfulness is defined according to academic literature, as a natural human capacity, which involves observing, participating and accepting each of life’s moments from a state of equilibrium or loving kindness (Albrecht, 2018). Mindfulness is a way of training the mind to be present. It is a secular meditative practice, which involves paying attention to what is happening as it happens, and doing so with an attitude of kindness, acceptance, and non-judgment. As such, cultivating mindfulness results in greater self-awareness, and enables us to become more joyful, more empathic, and more resilient. We can learn to respond with greater wisdom and flexibility to difficult emotions and experiences, and learn to live with greater happiness and vitality Research in mindfulness is growing at an incredible rate. A substantial and growing body of evidence demonstrates myriad positive effects, from improvements in optimism, resilience, emotion well-being and positive relationships, to reductions in aggression, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Some research suggests that meditation and yoga may be associated with beneficial outcomes for children and youth (Greenberg and Harris, 2011). Despite the fact that mindfulness techniques could help young people who suffer from stress and anxiety or have other mental health issues, not many young people actually know how to do it. Similarly, youth workers lack the relevant knowledge and experience and feel incompetent at delivering mindfulness training. Therefore, comprehensive programs are needed in mindfulness education to help youth workers new to mindfulness share the practices with youths.

This need urges to achieve a transnational partnership among the partner institutions involved, aiming at the preparation of a comprehensive Mindfulness Training package and the training and education of youth workers, as target groups and youths as final beneficiaries. The purpose of the MindfulYouth project is an international synergy between 5 European organisations with the same need – mindfulness training and youth workers’ professional development towards promoting mindfulness among youth to help them embrace and practice mindfulness towards the betterment of their mental health.
The project has the following objectives:
1. To design, test and publish a Mindfulness training package for youth workers,
2. To contribute to the professional development of youth workers in mindfulness education
3. To promote mindfulness education among youths, at the European level and internationally.
The objectives will be achieved through:

INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS/ACTIVITIES:
The development of 4 IOs which will consist a comprehensive Mindfulness training package for youth workers’ professional development,
IO1- MindfulYouth Curriculum
IO2- Guidebook on Simulation Scenarios for mindfulness
IO3- Mindfulness App
IO4- Simulation Scenarios for Mindfulness
Two training activities will take place:
C1: Training activity for the trainers
C2: Training activity for young learners
4 Multiplier Events and 1 Final International Conference will take place aiming at the dissemination of the project outcomes to the relevant stakeholders.
Target users: youth, youth suffering from stress and anxiety, mental health problems

Partners: 5 partners from Finland, Cyprus, Lithuania, Croatia and Italy

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 160439 Eur

Project Coordinator

Sosiaalipedagogiikan säätiö & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Life Potential organizacija
• STANDO LTD
• Viesoji istaiga “Svietimo, tyrimu ir konsultaciju centras”
• AALBORG UNIVERSITET