Nurture Earth and spirit
PIA - Play, Improvisation and Art, two-phased Training Course
This project, consisting of two interconnected 9 days long training courses, invited youth workers to dive deeply into the pedagogical use of playfulness, spontaneity, and creative processes to empower young people — both as individuals (fostering personal and social skills) and within groups (peer support, inclusion, and emotional safety). The main methods explored were play, improvisation, theatre, body-oriented practices, and visual arts and creative expression.
We explored:
- Why and how to use play, improvisation, and creative expression in youth work.
- What these methods can awaken in young people, including young people with fewer opportunities.
- How different art forms — especially theatre, body-oriented practices, and visual arts — could be used to meet specific pedagogical goals.
During the first training course, participants explored different theoretical approaches behind the methods, including creative art therapy, play therapy, psychosomatic theory, theatre of the oppressed, improvisation, and flow theory. These were connected with practical and experiential activities, so that participants could experience the methods themselves and reflect on how they could be used in youth work, what they could bring to young people, and what ethical considerations they involved.
The second phase of the project focused on how to apply and adapt the methodologies we had learned to specific youth groups, needs, and goals. In small groups, participants designed a workshop around a topic they wished to explore more deeply and tried it out during the second training course with a group of fellow youth workers. In this way, we developed concrete practices, shared experiences, and engaged in supervision, peer feedback, and collective inquiry.
As a result, a collection of participants designed workshops was created. You can explore them in the Designed Workshops collection.
We also collected and developed the Theoretical & methodological framework shared during the first training course, covering play, improvisation, and art as tools of non-formal education, including somatic movement and theory, theatre games, body improvisation, visual art as an expressive medium and creative games.
Time and place: TC 1 23.9. – 1.10.2025, Smolnik, Slovenia, TC 2: 11.4. - 19.4.2026, Smolnik, Slovenia
Testimonials
“I found all the exercises involving physical contact and support very powerful. The work on personal boundaries was also very important for me — understanding that it’s not just ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but that there is space for negotiation. Exercises like mapping my own space and exploring where support comes from were very relevant …
It was really meaningful for me to hear everyone’s dreams. It created a strong sense of connection when we realized that, regardless of age, we share very similar dreams, fears and motivations. That moment brought the group closer in a very natural way.”
“Since I already lead workshops with children, young people and adults, I will definitely integrate many of the methods and experiences I gained here into my work. This training gave me both practical tools and a deeper understanding that I want to continue exploring further.”...
“I’ve come to the realization that this is something everyone should experience. I believe it is extremely valuable, and it would be wonderful if this kind of work could be introduced more widely.”
“What was not useful professionally was useful personally.”
“I’m at the very beginning of this adventure and everything still feels open and to be shaped. My interest is to work with young boys and there’s a lot of the things and exercises we did that I think would fit to explore emotions, boundaries, expression, support, connection…. A lot of what we learnt would be a great way to warm up, to create a safe space with the group, slowly building the tools and trust to work with, inviting openness, emotional depth and awareness through creative and somatic approaches.”
“This training gave me both practical tools and a deeper understanding that I want to continue exploring further.
At the same time, I feel a strong need to continue working on myself—not only as a facilitator, but also as a participant. I don’t want to stay only in the role of leading others; I want to remain part of a group process as well, to keep learning through experience.”
“As a youth worker, I plan to integrate these methods into my workshops in the youth center. Especially creative and body-based activities, improvisation, and reflective exercises.
I would like to use these tools to support young people in expressing themselves, building self-awareness, and strengthening their communication skills. I am also inspired to develop new workshops combining art, movement, and emotional awareness.”
Disseminations
Blind Dinner Experience
In the context of a Permaculture Intensive Training I attended, I facilitated for the other 20 participants (mixed ages between 20-50), the host and facilitators a blind dinner, inspired by the experience that Gréta had curated for us in Smolnik. An experience that brings us back in touch with all our senses, with our relationship to food and the rituality of solstice and dining as a community. ~Giorgio
Interdependence workshop
The workshop brought together 27 young participants to explore emotional resilience through embodied contact with nature - engaging with natural elements such as the ground, sticks, and the forest, alongside inner processes like breath, thought, and movement. Through guided exercises, participants examined the balance between dependence and independence, discovering interdependence as a stable foundation built on trust, mutual support, and connection to both self and environment.~Izabela
Workshops, non profit organisation, Book inspiration
After PIA 1, I organised several different workshops where I used exercises and methods I had learned during the training. I also incorporated some of the experiences, such as the blind dinner, into my children’s book, which will be published this spring.
On PIA we had an ispiring session about E+ and ESC activites and NGO founding. Through PIA, I also met Tekla. Both ecoraged us to found an non-profit organisation. We are also considering developing a KA2 projeczt
I am now preparing a new series of workshops exploring the themes of belonging, “Where is home?” and our relationship with Budapest. This project is also be inspired by my experience at PIA 2.
PIA has therefore given me much more than just the experience of the trainings themselves. It has influenced my workshops, my book, helped create a new organisation and inspired new projects. ~ Tina
Boundaries and bubbles workshop
As part of a 3-day training on sexual education for pedagogues and other educators, we used an exercise we had experienced during the PIA training. Through playful exploration of spatial and personal boundaries, participants explored their own comfortable “bubbles” and practised negotiating access to their personal space.
The experience opened a discussion about feelings and bodily sensations, saying no, respecting boundaries, and how boundaries can be negotiated in relationships.