IMPROspective
training course
10- 19. October 2023 in Germany
Improvisation for Youth Workers
IMPROspective is an 8-day training course that aims to introduce and explore principles of “improvisation” and experiment with practical and fun tools and techniques that can be readily used in daily life, creative work, and in other situations and places too.
Training our own awareness, acceptance, and sense of initiative can improve the quality of our days and the things we do. We will learn how to jump into the unknown and respond properly to the needs of the diverse people and situations we are working with.
We invite you to be, move, play, observe, listen, share, challenge yourself, learn from within and from each other, get to know new people & ways & attitudes, and create this experience together.
Let's explore and experiment together with activities and methods which help us to tune in to the unfolding moment and cultivate our ability to improvise.
Why improvisation?
Improvisation serves to strengthen one’s confidence in himself and in his skills and abilities. It allows participants in training to experience visceral, ‘in the moment’ practice within an overtly reflective and supportive environment. Furthermore, improvisation encourages one to actively seek the unfamiliar, rather than simply learn to cope with it. It also represents a more fitting response to the complexity of human relations in which youth workers operate and thereby helps to preserve the integrity of process-based practice.
Who is this training for?
The training was designed for youth workers, volunteers, activists, trainers, and other people who work with people, that want to refresh their skills and attitudes to their days, to other people, to work and to the world.
We aim to have an overall number of 25 participants from the following countries:
Greece, Italy, Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Romania and Germany.
The participants must be over 18 years and have a communicative level of the English language so that they can participate fully in a program that will be in English.
This training is for you, if you...
● want to explore and experiment with specific tools from non formal artistic fields (theatre, dance, creative expression),
● want to use and imply the learned skills in your professional work with people,
● are open to sharing your own skills and learning the skills with others,
● are motivated and willing to commit to work on the objectives of the training course and participate in the whole duration of the project (preparation, training course, follow-up activities).
What will we be doing? during the training we will be:
- collecting new inputs and inspiration that renew motivations to act with commitment and new ideas.
- refreshing curiosity and playfulness in approaching your work.
- improving your trainers’ skills to be more efficient, adaptable, and responding to issues and demands in your work.
- widening your perspectives and points of view to see new opportunities, create new patterns, and avoid situations of stalemate when working with people with different cultural background.
- gathering specific tools from nonformal artistic fields (theatre, dance, creative expression) that are not easily accessible for all the youth workers.
By training your own awareness, acceptance, and sense of initiative you can improve the quality of your actions. We wish to support you in finding ways to more efficient and creative approach through improvisation – by developing your skills to be fully present, listen, accept and act, by equipping you with new improv-based tools that you can later on use in your practice.
Working methods
We will be exploring the principles and techniques of various improvisation-based methodologies.
From theatre improvisation and contact improvisation activities, going into subtler improvisation with rhythm, music, and dance and closing with creative storytelling.
The course will also have a strong component based on the sharing of ideas, opinions, experiences and best practices, so if you consider joining the training, start thinking of some activities, you would like to propose.
In the 8 days together, we will move, talk, listen, try, fail, try again and succeed. All in random (improvised) order.
Also, bear in mind that no artistic or impro skills are needed to attend the training
When and where?
The training will happen from 10th October (arrival) to 19th October (departure)
in the small village of Sattenhausen in the center of Germany, Gottingen District.
We will be accommodated in a half-timbered house with modern, simple equipment and shared rooms with bunk beds.
Venue: http://sattenhausen.de/freizeitheim.html
The village is surrounded by a lush forest and field landscape that will allow us to revitalize our bodies and spirits and is a source of inspiration and stillness.
Meals will be cooked by our veggie chef and enjoyed on-site.
To provide and keep a safe and focused atmosphere for everybody we invite you to agree with an alcohol/drugs-free policy during the whole training course.
How to travel
To check your travel options, please, check your connections to Sattenhausen.
More detailed information about the travel arrangements to the venue will be provided to selected participants and will be assisted by the project coordinator.
We highly encourage and support participants in planning Green travel (train, carpooling, bus).
Note: Your travels cannot be further than 2 days before or after the training course.
Due to the rules of our financial grant.
Travel reimbursement
More detailed information about the travel reimbursement will be provided to selected participants and will be assisted by the project coordinator.
The travel costs of the participants will be refunded after the training course usually within 8 - 12 weeks
- after participants send all their travel documents and fulfill closing tasks for the project
including dissemination & follow-up activities.
Maximum amounts:
Czech Republic, Germany - 180 EUR
Greece - 275 EUR
France, Italy, Romania - 275 EUR / 320 EUR green travel
Portugal - 360 EUR
ANYWAY, DON'T FORGET TO KEEP ALL YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND RECEIPTS,
we will need them to reimburse your transport!
Costs
Accommodation, food, and training program are provided.
Travel costs will be reimbursed (more info above).
Participant contribution: sliding scale from 100 to 150 €.
Participation contribution: we offer the opportunity to self-assess your contribution on a sliding scale between 100 – 150 euro (to be paid in cash upon arrival).
Considering the participation in 8 full days of activities, please choose an amount that responds to your possibilities and that matches the values of balance and reciprocity.
Money shouldn’t be an obstacle to your participation.
In case you cannot effort the contribution, please contact us.
This course was co-funded by the Erasmus+ program, Mobility of youth workers.
If you wish to learn more about the program and its opportunities, have a look here.
Travel and health insurance
Health insurance will NOT be provided or reimbursed by the mobility organizers.
However, it is a mandatory requirement for all participants to provide their own health insurance.
This should cover you for the full duration of your time in Germany.
Food
The delicious food will be vegan/vegetarian, prepared with love and care by our cook Rafael
Born and raised in the Brazilian Amazon region, has been studying and working in the areas of vegetarian cooking, natural therapies, and holistic health for more than 10 years. In 2017 he moves to Portugal and starts a Kundalini Yoga teacher formation at the Ashram Guru Ram Das, moving there after a while and leading the kitchen of the ashram with the cooking team Dharti Prasad. He has the experience of cooking for a spiritual community as well as for groups and events in Portugal and other countries, integrating nutrition and flavor, enjoyment and consciousness work through serving plant-based food.
Application and contacts
Do not book any ticket or insurance now!
First, make sure to apply for this training course
deadline for application is: 10th of August 2023 at 2 pm
and wait for the results of the selection:
results will be published by: the 20th of August 2023
results with detailed information will be sent via mail to all applicants (selected - waiting list - not selected)
To participate in this training please fill in the APPLICATION FORM
If you have any questions please contact us
via mail: embodiedjourney@gmail.com
Space holders
Antonio
is a passionate trainer who loves to craft experiences for self-development, group awareness, creative expression and pursuit of wise and joyful freedom. He facilitates workshops, for teenagers, students, youth workers and adults, using and mixing his expertise and experiences from theatrical improvisation, contemporary dance, martial arts and contact improvisation.
More about Antonio:
http://trainers.salto-youth.net/AntonioCargnello/
Caroline
As a cultural pedagogue, dance and yoga teacher, she works with kids, teenagers, young adults and seniors in order to support them to get in contact with themselves and their vitality. Body awareness, authentic ways of expression and emotional work is the main focus of her work. Strongly inspired by rituals of indigenous people, she loves to create and facilitate community based rituals in order to awake awareness, connection and authentic expression.
Andrej
is a naturally curious kid exploring the universal magic of life on his travels around the world and in different roles in multi-culti educational youth projects and initiatives. His main passion and mission is experimenting with different methods and tools and trying to bring a “mind-fool” and playful approach into youth work through nature, mindfulness and movement-based activities.
More about Andrej:
http://trainers.salto-youth.net/AndrejD/