Erasmus+ projekt “Building Bridges” održao se u trajanju od 27.1. do 5.2.2024. “Building Bridges” je osmodnevni trening program o metodama nenasilne komunikacije i društvene promjene koji je okupio 26 sudionika iz sedam europskih država; Hrvatske, Poljske, Bugarske, Rumunjske, Češke, Njemačke i Grčke. Trening se održavao u Kaprálův mlýnu, izviđačkom centru u okolici grada Brna. Voditelji su bili Adam Čajka i Katka Martínková, organizator je NVC Brno te je projekt sufinanciran od strane Europske unije.
Prvi dan programa započeo je upoznavanjem sudionika, predstavljanjem radnog plana te aktivnostima za uvod u temu nenasilne komunikacije (NVC). Fokus dana bio jest predstaviti tri temeljna stupa NVC-a koja će se detaljnije istraživati u ostatku treninga; samopovezivanje, samoizražavanje i empatija. Sudionici su također upoznati s pojmovima osjećaja i potreba, točnije kako ih ispravno koristiti i kako ih razlikovati od lažnih osjećaja i strategija za ispunjenje potreba s kojima se prethodni često mogu miješati.
Drugi dan usmjeren je na empatiju kao ključnu točku prakticiranja nenasilne komunikacije. Empatija kao akcija bez cilja služi isključivo slušanju, pokušaju shvaćanja tuđeg svijeta te istraživanju osjećaja i potreba koji utječu na gledište sugovornika. Sudionici su raznim aktivnostima, koje su se dijelom odvijale i u prirodi, otkrivali umijeće pružanja empatije.
Trećeg dana predstavljeni su koraci prakticiranja nenasilne komunikacije; iznošenje zapažanja, otkrivanje osjećaja, otkrivanje potreba i izražavanje zahtjeva. Sudionici su u okviru rada u paru te rada u grupama vježbali povezivanje sva četiri koraka s prethodno stečenim znanjem o tri temeljna stupa NVC-a.
Voditelj programa četvrtog dana bio je Tadeáš Žďárský koji se ponajviše bavio širom društvenom dimenzijom NVC-a. Sudionici su pozvani na propitkivanje postojećih društvenih sistema, primarno analizirajući vodeće ekonomske sustave i problematiku kapitalizma. Cilj dana bio jest promišljanje o uspostavljanju sustava koji će uistinu biti u skladu s ljudskim potrebama.
Peti dan bio je rezerviran za slobodno vrijeme, mnogi sudionici su ga proveli planinareći do obližnjeg sela ili razgledavajući grad Brno.
Šestoga dana program je vodila Barbara Herucová koja je predstavila metodu kazališta potlačenih kao istraživanje različitih strategija za rješavanje na pozornici predstavljene situacije. Sudionici su upoznati s ulogama koje se mogu prepoznati u kazalištu potlačenih (tlačitelj, potlačeni, saveznik i prolaznik) te su na vlastitim primjerima improvizacijom oživljavali problematične situacije.
Predzadnji, sedmi dan treninga tematizirao jest problematiku privilegija i pozicija moći koje su sastavni dio međusobnih interakcija. Predstavljen jest transformativni pristup suočavanja s vlastitim privilegijama te moguća primjena istog na daljnje širenje stečenog znanja o NVC-u.
Posljednji dan iskorišten je za refleksiju. Prijepodnevni program odvijao se u šumi gdje su sudionici u parovima analizirali dojmove i ideje za buduće prakticiranje naučenih praksi. Poslijepodnevni dio bio je usmjeren na planiranje implementacije NVC-a u osobnom i profesionalnom aspektu.
A što naši sudionici kažu o projektu?
“Projekt “Building Bridges” u potpunosti je nadmašio sva moja očekivanja. Provesti deset dana s dvadesetak potpunih neznanaca bila mi je pomalo zastrašujuća ideja, ali ti neznanci su ispali jedni od najboljih i najtoplijih ljudi koje sam ikada upoznala. Dnevni program od skoro deset sati na početku samog projekta činio se iznimno zahtjevan, ali predstavljene teme i aktivnosti bile su tako dobro osmišljene da je, uz dobro društvo, trening s lakoćom odrađen. Zasigurno mogu reći da sam naučila iznimno korisne tehnike za analiziranje vlastitih konfliktnih situacija, no ponajviše kako pristupiti problemima koji će se pojavljivati u profesionalnom djelovanju. Ovakvo detaljno upoznavanje s područjem nenasilne komunikacije pružio mu je uvid u važnost vještine aktivnog slušanja i otvaranja sigurnog prostora za sugovornikovo izražavanje, ali i kako stvarno pružiti empatiju. Empatiju koja se ne svodi na rješavanje problema, sažaljevanje ili terapiju već empatiju koja doista omogućava uvid u realnost druge osobe. Na ovom treningu napravila sam velik korak ka izlaženju iz vlastite zone ugode i otkrivanju vlastitih potreba, jednako kao i jačanju svojeg profesionalnog identiteta. Moje potrebe za napretkom, učenjem, suradnjom i podrškom uspješno su zadovoljene.” – Ena
“Kada sam saznala za održavanje Erasmus+ treninga “Building bridges” nisam ni trena okolišala oko prijave. Tema nenasilne komunikacije činila mi se iznimno korisnom u mojem budućem pedagoškom djelovanju. Međutim, pravo iznenađenje dolazi na treningu. Kako sam jako malo znala o nenasilnoj komunikaciji prije,postojao je strah da će se trening pretvoriti u teorijska predavanja, ali to ne može biti dalje od istine. Treneri Adam i Katka na iznimno su zanimljiv način u prva tri dana pristupili osnovama nenasilne komunikacije. Kroz razne dijade i grupne diskusije, kojima se prvi dan nisam radovala, a treći dan su već postale lakše, naučila sam mnogo o prepoznavanju konflikata u meni samoj, ali i kako aktivno slušati druge pri iskazivanju njihovih emocija, te kako im pružiti empatiju. Zatim slijede dva dana u kojima smo imali priliku slušati o nenasilnoj komunikaciji u svrhu globalne promjene te njenoj primjeni u metodi Kazališta potlačenih. Sam trening završili smo refleksijom na sve što smo naučili.
Iznimno sam sretna što sam imala priliku sudjelovati na ovome treningu. Uz sva stečena znanja, imala sam priliku upoznati iznimnih 27 pojedinaca koji su mi ustinu pomogli tokom procesa učenja, ali i činili svaki dan toliko zabavnim da mi je nakon večere bilo žao ići spavati. Nadam se da ću u budućnosti nastaviti učiti o nenasilnoj komunikaciji te razvijati vještine potrebne za njenu primjenu.” – Matea
“Ovo je bio prvi projekt na kojemu sam sudjelovala te nisam znala što očekivati. Iako sam na projekt „Building Bridges“ došla s vrlo malo očekivanja, ona su u potpunosti bila nadmašena. Od predivnih ljudi, druženja, pa do odličnih aktivnosti i pomno osmišljenog dnevnog rasporeda, moji dani su prolazili u učenju, otkrivanju, aktivnosti i smijehu. Samo okruženje bilo je vrlo motivirajuće i jedan svojevrstan sigurni prostor za napredak kojega sam mogla uočiti na drugima, ali i na sebi. Odlazak u Češku smatram osobnom pobjedom jer sam izašla iz vlastitih okvira i istinski radila na svojoj komunikaciji. Tijekom projekta shvatila sam značaj nenasilne komunikacije te potrebu za istom u iznenađujućoj količini svakodnevnih situacija. Također, vidim veliki potencijal za primjenom stečenih znanja u budućoj struci. U ovih osam dana, zbližila sam se s poznatim ljudima, s potpunim strancima, ali i sa samom sobom.” – Josipa
“Trening „Building Bridges“ za mene je bio vrlo ugodno iznenađenje. Prijavila sam se s vrlo malim očekivanjima zato što uopće nisam znala što očekivati od teme nenasilne komunikacije. Isprva sam mislila da će biti jednostavno te da je to zasigurno nešto za što sam već čula i s čime sam radila. Međutim, pokazalo se da nije ispalo baš kako sam mislila. Upravo zbog toga mogu reći da sam jako puno naučila od naših trenera Katke i Adama, gostujućih predavača, ali i od 27 prekrasnih ljudi koje sam upoznala na treningu. Iako sam od njih možda najviše naučila o životu, međuljudskim odnosima i razumijevanju. Zapravo me projekt osvojio već prvi dan, a iskustvo sudjelovanja smatram veoma plodonosnim, u privatnom, ali posebno u budućem profesionalnom životu. Imala sam priliku iskusiti stvari koje nikad nisam, izaći iz svoje zone komfora i preispitati stvari koje sam inače uzimala zdravo za gotovo. Naposljetku sam sve to prošla s 27 ljudi, s kojima ću zauvijek dijeliti ovo posebno iskustvo.” – Anika
Erasmus+ project TC “Building Bridges”
Erasmus+ project “Building Bridges” was held from 27.1. to 5.2.2024. “Building Bridges” is an eight-day training course on nonviolent communication and social change that included 26 participants from seven European countries; Croatia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Germany and Greece. The training took place at Kaprálův mlýn, scout center near the city of Brno. Facilitators were Adam Čajka and Katka Martínková, the organizer is NVC Brno and the project is co-funded by the European Union.
The first day of the programme started with activities for getting familiar with each other and learning the names, followed by an introduction to nonviolent communication (NVC). The focus of the day was presenting the three pillars of NVC that would later be explored in more depth; self-connection, self-expression and empathy. The participants were also introduced to the terms of feelings and needs, more precisely, how to use the terms correctly and how to differentiate them from false feelings and strategies for meeting the needs which are often mixed with previous two.
The main topic of the second day was empathy as a key point when practicing nonviolent communication. Empathy as an action that has no goal, is an attempt to understand someone else’s reality and exploring the feelings and needs that are behind a particular point of view. Participants were discovering the skill of practicing empathy in many different exercises, with some of them being held in nature.
The focus of the third day were the steps of practicing NVC; stating the observations, detection of feelings, detection of needs and stating the requests. While working in pairs and in groups, participants practiced linking the four steps with already learned knowledge of the three pillars of NVC.
The facilitator of the fourth day was Tadeáš Žďárský who introduces the participants to social dimension of NVC. Participants are invited to question the existing social systems, primarily analyzing the leading economic systems and the problems of capitalism. The main goal of the day was the consideration of establishing different global systems that would actually be able to meet human needs.
The fifth day was integration day which was reserved for free activities, many participants spent the day hiking to the nearby village of sightseeing in Brno.
On the sixth day, guest facilitator Barbara Herucová presented the theater of the oppressed as a method of exploring different strategies to solving the problematic situation that the actors played on the stage. Participants were introduced to the roles that can be seen in the theater of the oppressed (oppressor, oppressed, ally and passerby) and, with the method of improv, depicting their own difficult situations.
On the seventh day the discussion of privileges and the positions of power as an always present factor in social interactions was held. The participants talked about the transformative way of engaging with privileges and the possibility of implementing the same when teaching NVC.
The last day was used for reflection. The morning program took place in the woods where the participants were able to analyze their impressions of the last week and discuss the ideas on future practicing of NVC. The afternoon part was focused on making a plan of action regarding the usage of NVC in both personal and professional aspects.
And what are our participants saying about the project?
“The “Building Bridges” project completely exceeded all my expectations. Spending ten days with about twenty complete strangers was a bit of a scary idea for me, but those strangers turned out to be some of the best and warmest people I’ve ever met. The daily program of almost ten hours at the beginning of the project itself seemed extremely demanding, but the topics and activities presented were so well thought out that, with good company, the training was completed with ease. I can certainly say that I learned extremely useful techniques for analyzing my own conflict situations, but above all, how to approach problems that will appear in my professional activities. This detailed introduction to the field of non-violent communication gave him insight into the importance of the skill of active listening and opening a safe space for the interlocutor’s expression, but also how to really provide empathy. Empathy that is not reduced to problem solving, pity or therapy, but empathy that really allows insight into the reality of another person. At this training, I took a big step towards getting out of my comfort zone and discovering my own needs, as well as strengthening my professional identity. My needs for progress, learning, collaboration and support have been successfully met.” – Ena
“When I found out about the Erasmus+ training “Building bridges”, I didn’t even think about applying for a moment. The topic of nonviolent communication seemed extremely useful to me in my future pedagogical activities. However, the real surprise comes in training. As I knew very little about nonviolent communication before, there was a fear that the training would turn into theoretical lectures, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Trainers Adam and Katka approached the basics of nonviolent communication in an extremely interesting way in the first three days. Through various dyads and group discussions, which I did not look forward to on the first day, but on the third day they became easier, I learned a lot about recognizing conflicts in myself, but also how to actively listen to others when expressing their emotions, and how to provide them with empathy. Then followed two days in which we had the opportunity to hear about nonviolent communication for the purpose of global change and its application in the Theater of the Oppressed method. We ended the training itself with a reflection on everything we learned.
I am extremely happy that I had the opportunity to participate in this training. Along with all the acquired knowledge, I had the opportunity to meet 27 exceptional individuals who really helped me during the learning process, but also made every day so much fun that I was sorry to go to sleep after dinner. I hope that in the future I will continue to learn about nonviolent communication and develop the skills necessary for its application.” – Matea
“This was the first project I participated in and I didn’t know what to expect. Although I came to the “Building Bridges” project with very few expectations, they were completely exceeded. From wonderful people, socializing, to great activities and a carefully planned daily schedule, my days were spent in learning, discovery, activity and laughter. The environment itself was very motivating and a kind of safe space for progress that I could see in others, as well as in myself. I consider going to the Czech Republic a personal victory because I got out of my own frame and really worked on my communication. During the project, I realized the importance of nonviolent communication and the need for it in a surprising number of everyday situations. Also, I see great potential for applying the acquired knowledge in the future profession. In these eight days, I got closer to famous people, to complete strangers, but also to myself.” – Josipa
“The “Building Bridges” training was a very pleasant surprise for me. I signed up with very low expectations because I didn’t know what to expect from the topic of nonviolent communication. At first I thought it would be simple and that it was certainly something I had already heard of and worked with. However, it turned out that it didn’t turn out exactly as I thought. This is exactly why I can say that I learned a lot from our coaches Katka and Adam, the guest lecturers, but also from the 27 wonderful people I met at the training. Although I may have learned the most about life, interpersonal relationships and understanding from them. In fact, the project won me over on the first day, and I consider the experience of participation very fruitful, in my private life, but especially in my future professional life. I had the opportunity to experience things that I have never experienced, to step out of my comfort zone and question things that I used to take for granted. In the end, I went through all that with 27 people, with whom I will forever share this special experience.” – Anika
