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Association of Nurturing the Earth and the spirit

About

The Association Nurturing of the Earth and the Spirit (Društvo nega zemlje in duha) was established through the youth initiative "Permaculture in the Countryside and in the City" in 2014.

The first years of our activity have sparked many eco and social farms – thanks to which young people from our projects are now experts in their field, following their dreams of creation.

Like the name explains, the main object of the association is fostering the care for Earth (practical and theoretical), as well as cultivating the human spirit.

It is intended to promote the holistic personal and social development of children, young people and adults as well as sustainable development. At this point, the association mostly operates on a permacultural family farm Domačija Mokovec, but also in other nature-based places.

The vision of the association is:

to spread ecological, permaculture and regenerative farming approaches
to support young people to follow their dreams in the rural areas (revival of rural areas)
to create more nature-based pedagogical/social environments and farms, where people can express themselves authentically
to develop and share educational content that brings benefits to society, the individual and nature.

OUR ACTIVITIES:

Activities in the field of sustainable development:

- development of green skills of young people through ESC and other volunteer activities or internships, individual or group activies where the focus is primarily on education (practical and theoretical)
- support of international and Slovenian young people for the development of their sustainable initiatives (online consulting, ESC mentoring, mentoring of youth projects, coaching activities), support for young people experiencing hardship due to climate change
- workshops in youth centers on the topic of sustainability
- education of young people and adults - like permacultural design course, nature building, ect. (online education, one-day workshops or multi-day education)
- mentoring of young people and young farmers to promote regenerative agriculture - through online promotion, education and workshops
- workshop presentation of a sustainable learning polygon,
- co-organization of meetings of sustainable initiatives in Slovenia, regular support of the Slovenian network of sustainable initiatives, part of the representatives in GEN.

Activities in the field of holistic pedagogy for young people:

- up to 2-month long social therapeutic camps in nature with groups of vulnerable young people through ESC
- individual ESC activities with vulnerable young people
- sending youth organization to international youth exchange and education activities, ESC activities and also education on the topic of sustainable development, moving life into nature, psychosocial development of young people, mental health
- reinforced mentors for youth
- E + mobility of youth workers in the field of holistic empowerment and youth mental health
- one-day workshops for Slovenian youth workers (mainly on the use of artistic media and the medium of nature to support young/vulnerable youth and holistic empowerment of youth)
- one-day workshops for young people (creative workshops and holistic empowerment workshops - development of personal, social, emotional skills, values and self-help)
- workshops in youth centers using the collage method (Vision Board - development of values, self-image, calling, professional development of young people)
- therapeutic days on the farm with socially disadvantaged young people

Sustainability

The dream and focus of our actions is to create a supportive environment for learning and spreading sustainable living, sustainable lifestyle and development (personal, social and in relation to nature), learning permaculture as an integrated planning of different ecosystems, and spreading knowledge about natural building.

We are also creating a polygon of regenerative farming and teach young people such approaches. We also share our knowledge about self-sufficiency and gardening over the whole year, from collecting owns own seeds, making seedlings to storing food.

Holistic Pedagogy

As well as establishing integrated and holistic pedagogy, and experiential learning of children, young people and adults. We operate on the principle of empowerment and inclusion of each individual and the promotion of inter-generational learning and non-formal learning among young people and the elderly in the local community. In the area of holistic pedagogy, we carry out shorter or longer adventure pedagogical activities according to the principles of experiential learning for children and young people, which main tools are nature and different art approaches for developing personal, emotional and social skills.

Community

Our main mission is also to empower communities and networks of sustainable and social initiatives. So we work closely with many related organizations. And support the slovenian newtork of sustainable initiatives (eco-village network), as well are connected to the European network.

Our education and trainings for young people and adults are in the areas of:

Teaching practical and theoretical approaches that are focus on sustainability

personal and social (like planning sustainable natural and social ecosystems, permaculture (also PDC - permaculture design course), regenerative farming, no-dig gardening, natural building, circular economy, etc.)

New approaches and methods of eco communities

The hero's journey, Dragon dreaming, Joanna Macy methods, community and group process, community incubators, sociocracy, conflict resolution and other.

Use of different art and creative media

Such as experiental exercises using the body, dance and somatic, theatre (improvisation, image and phisical theatre, and other), visual arts, creative art therapy and circus pedagogy. We use this meadia for developing personal and social skills, inclusion, working with young people with fewer opportunities and holistic development.

Different Coaching and counselling methods with youth

with the aim of helping young people to research their personal “call” and purpose in life, and take the concrete steps to its realization (such as: Life Coaching, Start-Up Coaching, Body Coaching, Coaching through art, Hero’s journey method, discovering our Needs and emotions - NVC)

Mental health and holistic well-being of youth

with the focus of raising sharing knowledge and creative tools and approaches that help young people to develop protective factors (inside them and in their enviroment), build essential capacities for a positive mental health and holistic living with a sense of personal purpose. We use the backround of positive psychology, social pedagogy, empowerment, somatics and other.

Use of nature based approaches as a pedagogical tool

Adventure pedagogy, experience learning in nature, how to develop nature intelligence within youth, use of the medicine wheel as a pedagogical tool, Bill Plotkins frame of work,ect.