Roots of Resilience-YE
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 sixth year we implemented the following Mobilities in order to contribute to the set objectives
1. Map and Compass: 22.06-05.07.2026
2. Roots of Resilience: 24.08.-05.09.202
3. The thread that connects: 21.09.-02.10.2026
4. Paths to potential: 12-23.10.2026
5. Skills 4 Life: 18-29.01.2027
All the Mobilities are co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union
Youth exchange period: 24.08.-05.09.2026
Location: Sovata – Outward Bound Romania Youth Center
Participants: 24 participants
Participating countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Greece, Hungary and Romania
Partner organizations:
· Biedrība re:view -LV
· Enterprising Partners -LT
· Roes Cooperativa KOIN.S.EP. -GR
· Nyugi Alapítvány -HU
· Outward Bound Romania – RO Info letter: Roots of resilience- Info-pack.pdf
Main Goal & Objectives:
The program aims to support resilience by sharing with the young people easy-to-use tools and practices, physical experiences, and self-reflective practices that help them navigate challenging situations and build a grounded, meaningful, and purposeful life. They will gain awareness of their inner and outer resources and develop clarity on how to build proactive resilience in their everyday lives.
Besides these professional aspects, they can create new friendships, they can get to know other cultures better, they can have fun together, and they can share all the important topics in their everyday life.
Main program elements are: team building activities with purposely appropriate stressful frames, high ropes course activities (Jacob’s Ladder, Pampers pole), low ropes course activities, 5-day hike in the wilderness (with limited digital use), interactive workshops, water activities (raft building), opportunities to face individual/ group challenges and stretch comfort zone, solo time, journaling, and nature-based self-reflection, sharing cultures, having fun together
Results of the projects:
They gained awareness of their inner and outer resources and developed clarity on how to build proactive resilience in their everyday lives. They developed their leadership skills, decicion making skill, and became braver to face different challenges. Besides these professional aspects, they created new friendships, got to know other cultures better, had fun together, and could share their experiences.
Learning outcomes:
· developing practical skills to support everyday resilience
· personal development (resilience, overcoming limits, leadership skills, decision making process, self-confidence etc.)
· practical knowledge about the green and sustainable lifestyle
Feedback of the participants:
“I would say Jacob’s ladder, it was one of the modt challenging things I’ve ever done, I did not expect this to happen as well as I had zero hope in myself i can do it, but I did it and the moment i was up there, all shaking from pain and height, waiting to be put down I just saw the view, mountains, rain and that was it, it was pure magic, i stopped, my thoughts stopped, pain also, I could not believe it I am here on the top just standing there. If I would’ve listened to my fears and stayed on the ground then I would’ve missed the magic, because the best things are on the opposite side of fear.”
„It would definitely be an ability to stop for a minute and scout, scout in life, scout in new situations, to make sure if its the right direction, if not, not punish yourself but find another way, go back, have this imaginable compass in my life. To believe that maybe its the last peak i am able to get to and this is my limit and then see another one and climb to it like it’s nothing even tho few minutes ago I said i can’t take it anymore. To be strong and resilience, to have hope and enjoy the present moment, feel my toes and how much they hurt, enjoy the cows and dogs and countless slices of bread. Whatever it might be, just enjoy it and see the beauty in it.”
„The most significant learning is that true resilience comes from taking things “one step at a time” and embracing discomfort. I learned how to manage my tendency to overthink situations by focusing on the immediate next action, and I realized the immense value of relying on a team rather than trying to solve everything individually.”
Photos about the program: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=outwardbound.ro&set=a.1522332019939445
Testimony videos: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1538833584661277
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1400372465374049
