Dances of Universal Peace, Erasmus+ TC

16.-25.08.2022

LATVIA

KOKNESE

We invite active and open-minded youth workers, youth leaders and activists to Erasmus+ PDA (Professional development Activity) “DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE”

PDA – Training course
Activity Name: DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE

Participants: Youth workers, youth leaders, and activists from Latvia, Cyprus, Poland, and Norway, aged 18+

4 PARTICIPANTS FROM EACH COUNTRY

PARTNER COUNTRIES: Latvia, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, France

The training course of youth workers using the method of dances of universal peace is designated for workers who would like to find new methods and tools for youth to create an inclusive society and to learn, how find space and place to participate of all, and to focus on mental health and well-being.

We offer to use the method of dances of universal peace, as it works with harmonization of the mental health and well-being.

As it stated in the article of DJ Andrews – Knowing Peace And Changing Outlooks about the medical research of the method (Weaving the Dances of Universal Peace into Medical and Behavioral Treatment Models for Substance Abuse, Governors State University University Park, Illinois, 1993Weaving the Dances of Universal Peace into Medical and Behavioral Treatment Models for Substance Abuse, Governors State University University Park, Illinois, 1993) This method helps in:

• Efficient drug and alcohol abuse treatment;
• Multimodal program with the benefit of of networking and sharing expertise among professionals of varying disciplines;
• Increasing acceptance of spirituality as a dimension of holistic health
• DUP foster personal growth;
• The Dances mirror real-life situations where one is required to move individually, within partnerships and in congruence with a group. 
• The role of the Dances in stress-reduction has been alluded to in discussion of the medical model by mention of the physiological changes that occur through use of movement, sound and rhythmic breathing. 
•  Universal healing on various levels: physical, emotional and mental

WHY DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE?

Today pedagogy is exploring new non-standard forms of teaching to facilitate the education of young people, especially young people with fewer opportunities and/or disabilities. Youth workers must find new interactive and engaging teaching methods so that young people in the growing flow of information can choose the most socially significant and valuable activities for self-development and social inclusion.

We present Dances of Universal Peace activity as an efficient form of pedagogy in teaching and non-formal education. Our main idea is that the Dances are appealing and fun for everybody, making it ideal as a tool for non-formal educational work with youngsters. The aim is to introduce to youth workers with positive, healthy activities, encourage co-operation, and strengthen their confidence, while developing co-ordination and persistence – new attractive methods which can be used in their future work with youngsters.

Certain Dance activities like cooperation with musicians, singing, playing musical simple instruments are taught, as well as time management for youth trainers, basic of training skills for youth workers, leadership, body language of trainer, secrets of the group dynamics. Most of used methods can be used for youth with disabilities and can improve work with this target group in future for increasing their social inclusion.

We consider that Dance activities are constructive leisure activities combining physical activity with creativity and art. By practicing this activity, children and teenager develop physical skills, social skills and personal skills. We want to propose appealing activities to youngsters in the form of Dance workshops. Apart from being attractive to young people, these activities convey modern values of citizenship, honesty and cooperation and at the same time build personal self-esteem and trust. We want to educate people involved in the youth field (youth workers) such as school teachers, sport teachers and youth center leaders from all over Europe and provide them with an innovative and flexible methods of youthwork.

We want to show them how to create, organize and implement Dance workshop with kids and teenagers. There will be no any circus experience needed, because a TC is prepared for total beginners.

The project fully meets the European policies in the fields of education, training and youth as well as priorities of the Erasmus+ Program. Partners of the projects are organizations working in youth work field from EU and EU neighbour countries.

Co-financed 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, European Commission or National Agency (Agency for International Programs for Youth) neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them