Heartland

Outward Round Romania owns the Erasmus+ Accreditation in the field of Youth since 2020. We created an action plan for the period 2021-2027 for the following target groups: disadvantaged and mainstream young persons, youth workers and youth NGOs.

During the 7 years we are going to:

  • create a strong local and international network of youth NGOs in order to share best practices and working methods.
  • develop the soft and hard skills of the youth workers, enlarge their toolkits and theoretical/practical knowledge about working with groups using non-formal methods
  • develop the key competences, raise the awareness of the young persons about environmental sustainability and contribute to their inclusion

During the third year we implemented the following Mobilities in order to contribute to the set objectives:

  1. Heartland: 08-16.09.2023
  2. Green Changemakers: 26.10-06.11.2023
  3. Solution Focus in Youthwork: 20-28.11.2023
  4. Adventure and Learning Conference: 06-11.12.2023
  5. Reset: 26.01-06.02.2023
  6. Cooperation Well: 21-30.03.2024

All the Mobilities are co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union

Training course period: 8-16. September 2023.

Location: Sovata -Outward Bound Romania Youth Center, Gurghiului Mountains

Participants: 25 participants

Participating countries: Hungary, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania

Partner organizations: 

  • Outward Bound Romania – RO
  • Kacsakő Association – HU
  • Legambiente Lecco – IT
  • Novo Mundo – PT
  • Careterra – GR
  • Roes Cooperativa – GR
  • Dávid Ferenc Unitarian Youth Association – RO
  • Rubik School – RO

Info letter:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rOTebkLB5jueXrOzEosWVxYsqogoS_c9/view?usp=drive_link

Or main goal:

Learn by experience how heartland tools can build resilience, prevent burnout and support wellbeing and learn how to use it.

Specific objectives of the project are:

  • get to know about resilience, burnout, burnout prevention,
  • get to know heartland tools by participating on them, 
  • get to know heartland tools and put them in practice by facilitating one of them,
  • experience a sequence of heartland tools and it’s holistic well-being potential, 
  • go on an expedition Outdoor experiential learning 2 day experience

The elements of the program:

Team building, ropes course, learning through experience, expedition, developing trust, Heartland tools (easy to use activities to support well-being and prevent burnout), art elements (painting, music, dance)

Results of the projects:

The group was very open to cooperate and try new things. They developed group competencies, learned a lot of Heartland activities, learned about themselves and others during expedition and other team building and ropes course activities, and had some cultural experiences. 

Participants gained a better understanding of what resilience means and how they can help prevent burnout, so that they can use Heartland activities and facilitate them in their professional and personal lives.

Feedback of the participants:

 “Incredible experience, with people who became unforgettable! In addition to the fun and adventure, there were intense moments of sharing, communion and empathy. An excellent balm for the heart and many memories to cherish.”

“For me, this project represented the birth of a new season. It helped me reconnect with myself, with God and with nature. Furthermore, it also helped me to connect with the community, to rediscover the purpose of life, which is to help, love and care for each other, because we all need each other, and the connection with nature just brought us together . I met great people and made great connections, I gained resilience and self love, I fully recommend this to everyone.”

 “Incredible experience that will never be forgotten.”

“Dreaming again, and searching to discover”

“It was a great experience for everyone. I will have a lot of opportunities to use the tools.”

Photos and videos about the program:

https://www.facebook.com/sovidektv/videos/2065106667176014

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=outwardbound.ro&set=a.709050694600919

https://elmenyakademia.hu/ro/heartland-romana/

https://www.facebook.com/wearenovomundo/posts/721570000004569?mibextid=YxdKMJ