CREative Arts as Therapy tools In YOuth Work (CREATIYOK)
Agreement Number: 2023-1-PL01-KA210-YOU-000152756
The project is a 2 years KA210 project which has to do with activities in Creativity arts in non formal education as tools for art therapy in youth work. People that will be involved in this project will be educated in the above subject. We want 4 youth workers / trainers / educators / teachers / people that works with youth and are willing to work with us in the following aspects of the project:
Period for the initial Research: November 2023 – February 2024
The methodology of the research will be based on Non-Formal Education, with a focus on forms of art as therapy post-covid. The basic strategy and order of this activity will be as follows:
o Gaining relevant inputs on all mentioned fields of work within this project from specialists in the field,
o doing additional research on how this can be implemented in non-formal education and implementing this research and knowledge into all the activities of the project (i.e., in the training, in the handbook, etc.).
At the end of this project, the research findings and methodology will be published in a web forum (& handbook) and made available to the target groups of this project. When it comes to the contents of the research, it will be organized around several themes, each of which will be represented by a workshop (an online presentation of each topic to the members of this project): “Methodology of _______ as form of art as therapy,” where we will be able to demonstrate all of the forms of art and its possibilities in youth work. These workshops will take place at the initial stage of the project and the knowledge acquired will serve as the foundation for further research and implementation.
2. Training in Cyprus
Training of Youth Workers for Movement, Drama and Arts as Therapy in Youth Work (Cyprus) (3-9 of March 2023)
Through our unique approach of using movement/arts/drama techniques, we aim to provide a creative outlet for young people to express themselves and handle their emotions in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Creative arts can create a fun and engaging learning experience that encourage young people to explore their creativity and develop their own unique voice. By incorporating fictional stories into our workshops, we hope to inspire young people to think critically about the world around them and imagine new possibilities for the future. Additionally, the use of fictional stories and characters can provide a sense of distance and perspective that allows individuals to reflect on their own lives with greater clarity. Fictional stories often capture our imagination because they take us away from our reality, transporting us to different times and places. In this way, we may find that we experience thoughts and feelings that we don’t normally allow ourselves to feel in our everyday lives.
To implement our activity, we are going to use drama exercises, improvisations, role play, storytelling, drawing, collage, and body-dance movement. During the activities, participants will have time to express themselves and the opportunity to experience and explore different materials. By engaging in these creative activities, young people can explore their emotions and experiences in a non-threatening way, which can lead to increased self-awareness and improved emotional regulation. It has also been shown to help people find alternative ways to express their feelings as well as more improved ways of coping with upsetting life situations. Furthermore, creative arts can be particularly effective for individuals who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or who struggle with traditional talk therapy. It offers a creative and engaging approach to healing that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of everyone.
3. Implementation of Movement, Drama and Arts as Therapy in Youth Work (all countries)
Period of implementing the activities: March -September 2024
The activity will also take place after the training in Cyprus and will be foster from the trainer that we will have during our main activity. In our implementation, the youth workers will have the opportunity to evaluate the activities that we did in training (through zoom meetings), to see what works and what does not, what things can improve to be more efficient and creative for their groups and to try different approaches or creating their own activities according to their goals and their teams. Of course, every team is different and has different needs and a different way of approaching and that’s why a youth worker or a trainer must adapt easily according to the energy and the dynamic of each group separately. Some days we will invite the groups that our youth workers are working with and another day we will do another session to evaluate that process and how it could be improved. Also, if there are some youth workers that want to work with youngsters in the future, but they don’t have a group now, we will have a support group of volunteers (mostly coming from disadvantaged environments) to work with. Furthermore, all of the experiences will be recorded, and we will start to prepare our common document that will in the end be an electronic booklet for all of us, but while we are working, testing, having trial activities and track all the process making improvements where needed to. We will have a working document that we will all be stakeholders of that document.
Finally, during this activity we will start to work on our electronic booklet and record our sessions, keeping what is working successfully and checking about the improvements that may still be needed or the variations and adaptations that could also be used depending on their needs and their goals.
Youth Workers / Educators will make at least 6 follow up activities (daily activities, 2 youth workers in each activity for implementation and at least 15 youth workers in each activity) so to implement all the activities that youth workers learn in the training (budget for this activity its going to be payment of 12 days of work x 60 euro each day). For each activity all organisations will keep the following documents:
o Info pack with the program of each activity, in the program we need to have all the activities that participants will learn and to be able to implement in their countries.
o Advertising to social media of the training and to the Facebook page of the program
o Posters and invitations of the activities.
o Attendance list of the participants with signatures
o Detailed report of all activities that are been done during the Training meeting with photos.
o Detailed and analytical writing of all the activities that will be implemented so to be able to work on them after the training.
o 4 videos from the implementation certain activities with explanations (total of 12 video one for each activity – this will be shared according to the trainer)
4. Training in Latvia
Training of Trainers for Photography and Music as Therapy in Youth Work (Latvia)
Dates of the Activity: 2 to 8 of September 2024
With this activity we are planning to explore for youth workers the advantages of Music as Therapy combining with Art as Therapy. During the activity, participants will have the opportunity to learn about different music therapy techniques and how they can be applied in their work with young people. They will also have the chance to experiment with creating their own music and explore how it can be used as a tool for personal growth and healing.
Through this exploration, we aim to equip youth workers with the knowledge and skills to effectively incorporate music as a therapeutic tool in their work with young people. By understanding the power of music in promoting emotional well-being and social connections, youth workers can help young people overcome various challenges and improve their overall quality of life.
We would also like to combine arts with music as a therapy tool. To create art we will use everything, our bodies, minds, nature, and other tools. We are going to use art as a way of relieving our emotions, as a way of showing our emotions as a way of understanding through photography art. Incorporating music and art into youth programs can also provide a platform for self-expression and creativity, which can boost self-esteem and confidence in young people. Through the combination of music and photography, we can create a powerful medium that can help individuals process and release their emotions, leading them to a place of healing and renewal. This approach can be especially beneficial for those who struggle to express themselves verbally or who find it difficult to connect with others on an emotional level.
Music therapy has been proven to help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in youngsters. It can also improve their mood, increase their self-esteem, and enhance their communication skills. By incorporating photography into therapy sessions, participants can further explore their emotions and express themselves in a creative way.
5. Implementation of Photography and Music as Therapy in Youth Work (all countries)
Period of the activity: from September 2024 till March 2025
The activity will also take place after the training in Latvia and will be foster from the trainer that we will have during our main activity. In our implementation, the youth workers will have the opportunity to evaluate the activities that we did in training (through zoom meetings), to see what works and what does not, what things can improve to be more efficient and creative for their groups and to try different approaches or creating their own activities according to their goals and their teams. Of course, every team is different and has different needs and a different way of approaching and that’s why a youth worker or a trainer must adapt easily according to the energy and the dynamic of each group separately. Some days we will invite the groups that our youth workers are working with and another day we will do another session to evaluate that process and how it could be improved. Also, if there are some youth workers that want to work with youngsters in the future, but they don’t have a group now, we will have a support group of volunteers (mostly coming from disadvantaged environments) to work with. Furthermore, all of the experiences will be recorded, and we will start to prepare our common document that will in the end be an electronic booklet for all of us, but while we are working, testing, having trial activities and track all the process making improvements where needed to. We will have a working document that we will all be stakeholders of that document.
Finally, during this activity we will start to work on our electronic booklet and record our sessions, keeping what is working successfully and checking about the improvements that may still be needed or the variations and adaptations that could also be used depending on their needs and their goals.
Youth Workers / Educators Will make at least 6 follow up activities (daily activities, 2 youth workers in each activity for implementation and at least 15 youth workers in each activity) so to implement all the activities that youth workers learn in the training. For each activity all organisations will keep the following documents:
o Info pack with the program of each activity, in the program we need to have all the activities that participants will learn and to be able to implement in their countries.
o Advertising to social media of the training and to the Facebook page of the program
o Posters and invitations of the activities.
o Attendance list of the participants with signatures
o Detailed report of all activities that are been done during the Training meeting with photos.
o Detailed and analytical writing of all the activities that will be implemented so to be able to work on them after the training.
o 4 videos from the implementation certain activities with explanations (total of 12 video one for each activity – this will be shared according to the trainer)
6. Handbook, Video and cards as Outputs results of the activities in Creative Arts as therapy in Youth Work
Period of the activity: March 2024 – June 2025
All organisations are responsible for the following:
Organisation of the videos, cards and the analytical description of 4 activities for the handbook about Creative Arts (theater, movement, art) as therapy tools in Youth Work.
Organisation of the videos, cards and the analytical description of 4 activities for the handbook about Creative Arts (music and Photography) as therapy tools in Youth Work.
If you want to be part of this amazing project working with us for the next 2 years please apply in the following link: https://forms.gle/1wSW7oJcTGBhJice9
Comments