08/10/2025
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Last week we, representatives of the association, came back into the real world reality(s) after an ILLUMINATING training course ''Ecopedagogy in Youth Work: Pedagogy for the Earth''. We say illuminating, because that's what it was - a needed momentum for a temporary community to take place, come together, learn and share about the world's complexities, our part in the midst of this swirl, and how to bring these complexities closer to the youth of today. The week was so intense and saturated, that some of the participants felt as if a year has passed...Indeed, it was full of content, heated discussions, reflections, realizations, emotions and deep relating to oneself, the other and non-human domains.
The program took the participants from 6 different countries for a learning journey through the prism of Ecopedagogy, which eventually ended up being not only professionally oriented experience, but rather internally touching one. Every day was dedicated for an ecopedagogical principle, enlivened through collective practices, not forgetting the reflection as one of the essential key components in the learning praxis, as Paulo Freire, one of the biggest inspirators of Ecopedagogy concept, once said. The participants had an opportunity to get familiar with Decolonial approach in pedagogy, the importance of a dialogue in the community, Climate Fresk tool, GreenComp framework and place-based learning, the regional park of Gražutė and its natural treasures, group dynamics and analysis through simulations, Dragon Dreaming philosophy, Palestine as a symbol of Resistance, Forum Theatre as a tool for social justice, guided Nature Immersion, other animals' rights and the importance to stand up for the voiceless, and others. All of this to emphasize the notion that Ecopedagogy should not be reduced to outdoor education per se - it is a strong interlink between ecology and critical pedagogy, and as one of the participants shared, maybe at the end it was about ''unlearning the harm and relearning the care''.
This co-lived experience would not have been so enriching and wholesome if not the friends of the association, who shared their stories and expertise, thus an enormous gratitude goes to Kamal Karibou, Nadežda Jevdokimova, Nojus Kalvaitis and Greta Matusevičiūtė. Moreover, the magic could not have happened if not the captivating and full of history monastery in Inovatorių slėnis / Innovator's Valley, and the vegan food that nourished us all throughout the week made with love by talented chef Meilė. Last but no least, wholehearted gratitude goes to our partners In Aspectu, z. s., Radi Vidi Pats, Zielone Ogniwo, 01 21 Aps, Azes Valboenses and all the 24 participants, who trusted the process and made it unique.
We are still processing and most likely will do it for a while, but it was a huge privilege and we will continue to treat it as such - with responsibility and a question ''So, what's next?''
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The project was funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor National Agency can be held responsible for them.
