Bodywise - wise body

<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts, which intensified personal and organisational discomfort. Our goal was to support trainers working with marginalised groups, such as migrants, refugees, and the unemployed, by enhancing their communication and connection skills.We recognized the crucial role trainers play in fostering understanding between cultures and the need for them to develop deep listening skills, involving the whole body, to create a safe and trustful learning environment. Additionally, we aimed to provide trainers with tools and methods to maintain their mental and physical health, preventing burnout.The Bodywise workshops and the development of the Wise Body manual and website were designed to offer practical activities and learning opportunities, tested with vulnerable groups, to support educators in their professional and personal development. This project facilitated cross-border exchange and the dissemination of knowledge in English, Italian, and Estonian, addressing the need for improved communication and connection tools among trainers of disadvantaged groups.<< Objectives >>- Body Awareness - Improving Skills and Competences: Enhance educator's ability to understand and respond to the needs of marginalized groups through body awareness. By learning new methods to interpret body language, educators improved their competence in sensing and communicating non-verbally, which is crucial since 80% of communication is through the body. This aligns with the priority of improving educators' competences.-Connecting with Marginalised and Discriminated People: Establish professional connections between organizations and educators working with marginalized groups. The Bodywise-Laboratory facilitated better understanding through body sensing, particularly where language barriers exist. The project provided educators with tools to better listen to and understand vulnerable target groups, promoting inclusion and diversity.-Releasing Mental Stress: Introduce methods that support body awareness to help release stress. Educators learned and applied simple activities to reduce stress in their workshops and classrooms, especially during intense periods. These methods were made available online and in publications in three languages, promoting physical and mental well-being.<< Implementation >>There were 3 activities organised: 1) Bodywise monitoring including the Kick-off-meeting and the management of the project 2) Bodywise-Laboratory, where the partners shared onsite (5 days laboratory in Estonia, end of August 2023) and online (in total 3) their knowledge and experience on body-sensing methods. Following the Bodywise-Laboratory the 12 participants tested the methods themselves and with vulnerable groups they are working with. 3) Wise body Sharing phase: We produced Bodywise manual, audios and videos and the results were presented in a dissemination event in Reggio Emilia (Italy), on different social media channels (website, youtube, facebook, instagram) and in the EPALE platform. Additionally to the manual we also created an interactive webpage format in order to reach more people. In this phase the individual activities were also already used with our target groups and implemented in our ongoing trainings (alp, PC; Innowise). << Results >>Activity: BODYWISE MONITORING. Result:1.1. 3-day-Kick-off meeting in Austria with first bodysensing activities for team-building between the partners and Austria,1.2. 10 online management meetings with minutes 1.3. Deepened cooperation among the partners and ideas for future projectsActivity: THE BODYWISE LABORATORY. Result:2.1 5-day Bodywise-Laboratory held in Estonia, sharing experiences, practicing and implementing methods:12 participants.2.2 3 online trainings: a new approached was developed. Agenda was produced. 12 participants.2.3 Participants' feedback on their experience of testing.: A questionnaire for the testing was created and the results of the testing phase were run into the manual. Activity: WISE BODY SHARING. Results:3.1.“Wise body manual”: pdf-format (in English, Italian and Estonian) and web-based format in English3.2 3 “Wise body audios” with mindfulness practices, that can be used in working with marginalised target groups3.3 3 “Wise body videos” with practices that can be used in working with marginalised target groups (subtitles in Estonian and Italian)3.4 Dissemination event in Italy with 30 participants3.5 YouTube Channel with Bodywise audios and videos3.6 3 blog articles in EPALE