and more cosy and relaxed. Through above great. I got from it more than just team building activities out in the open I new methods to work with LGBTQIA+ realized how important is trust, support youth. The situations, the trainers, and and communication. I constantly felt people showed me a path on which i had that I’m stepping out of my comfort zone the chance to discover myself, extend and fighting my fears. This feeling was my limits, and connect with other people. the most powerful when I found out that During the process I was scared, a lot we are going to lead one hour in small of situations frustrated me and the groups for teenagers in a high school. training was emotionally draining. I am Until the last moment, I had doubts convinced that it was this way because I running through my mind but when the opened up and let it show me the way to hour started I felt that I drained out all self-discovery and growth.” - Ana my stage fright. I was having so much Authors | Maja Šnuderl, Michaela fun during the hour. I left the training Lennerová, Ana Zupančič course with a bag full of emotions and some fresh starting boost.” - Maja 51 “I joined the training with a bunch of expectations and wishes. I wanted to move a lot, wanted for new and exciting challenges to be thrown at me, wanted to meet new people and learn as many new things as I could. Usually when my expectations are high, I tend to be disappointed, even if the thing was quite good. Not this time. The training exceeded all expectations and was
3 The power of overcoming challenges together 52
“During the Out in the Open training course, we worked a lot on the topic of LGBTQIA+ spectrum and the outdoor activities, finding ways to connect them and use them in youth work. It all started with a hiking to Rites when 15 youth workers met and cooperated having a lot of creative challenges in between, in order to reach the place. This experience was a lot more than walking, as we got to know each other better, understand our weaknesses and strong points, give support to each other and the most important have fun while experimenting with the nature around us. The next days were full of magical moments in this beautiful house and forest in Rites, where we focused on the topic of LGBTQIA+ by sharing methods, techniques, and personal stories. At the same time we learned how to cooperate and overcome the challenges in an inclusive way through non-formal education and lastly be able to plan and implement activities with youngsters. The most important outcomes were the feeling of being accepted and the belief that we can do everything if we are together” Authors | Lefkothea Rizopoulou and Dimitra Moumou 53
4 The power of discovering more about ourselves 54
“During this project, my second Erasmus+ project, I had again a chance to tackle topics relating to the wide spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ community, a community which I am proud to belong to. It is relieving to state my pride, a pride that this project has certainly contributed to build up. Let alone the focus on sexuality and gender, this project has turned into an emotional journey that has made me understand what ‘informal education’ really is. If I had to give my personal interpretation of this, I would now say that it’s something I needed way earlier in my life and that doesn’t have less importance than formal education. If on one hand I’m happy I’ve been lucky enough to attend competitive schools and university across my study path, feeding my brain with culture, on the other hand projects like this really helped me feed my soul, which is more important. The idea of outdoor activities has been a bit confusing for me at the beginning.. how can sexuality, gender and self identity relate to this? By the end of the project the link became immediately clear: sometimes the members of our community can only see the forest from the inside, where is dark and the sun is often covered by the branches of the trees, life there can be threatening and some challenges can be enormous and really difficult to overcome without the help of others. However, something can change while you’re still in the forest: you acknowledge that you’re not alone and that a lot of people can be there, feeling lost and needing just as much help as you do to follow the light. Suddenly you realise that by sticking to these people challenges 55
will be easier, you will understand that me a lot about myself and helped me despite any difference, these people with personal development. The concept are exactly where you are, facing the of the project, bringing outdoor activities same challenges. Mutual help and and LGBTQIA+ activism together, understanding will give you a leg up bewildered me from the start but as to get out of the forest where nothing I embarked on the programme I was seems so much challenging anymore and amazed at how well the two could work you can discover how pleasant it is to live in harmony to produce something so in the sun-light.” powerful and effective. It was nerve- wracking to put our knowledge and skills Author | Eugenio Mi gained from training in action at a school in Riga. However, our activities proved “Though this project has taught me a a success and the youth in the school lot about how to raise awareness and seemed to have gained more knowledge work with people who belong to the from our discussions on the topic. In fact, LGBTQIA+ spectrum; it has also taught many were curious to learn more and this just proves the effectiveness of having 56
more practical and ‘hands-on’ activities the LGBTQIA+ community that I didn’t to talk about this topic. know before, I did things I didn’t think I could do and in the end I felt fulfilled, Personally, I felt motivated and inspired a new person. I have known wonderful by all the participants in the group. people that I will carry forever in my Everyone was determined to learn and heart and I hope to see them again one share their knowledge and indeed, we day. It was a magical and emotional all worked very well together. I think this journey of personal growth. project has inspired to be more vocal in my university LGBTQIA+ community and I think there should be more such to be more involved in projects similar to projects for people of all ages who this.” want to discover new notions about the LGBTQIA+ community and want to Author | Clara Goundry rediscover themselves. Together we can work together to change the world a little “During the project I discovered new better.” sides of myself and new notions about Author | Cecilia Tozzi 57
5 The power of inclusive youth work 58
ABOUT THE PROJECT have on personal and teamwork level, challenged participants to expand their In September 2019 we participated in a comfort zone and gave an opportunity to youth workers training program called work in new situations. „Out in the Open“ that focused on social inclusion and active participation of During the reflection it was brought out LGBT+ youth in society by improving that this activity is a good example for the competencies of youth workers communication and cooperation between in outdoor education. And now, after people. For the success of the activity, the first phase, it is the proper time to participants needed good evaluation reflect on the questions that I had before skills of the situation and acting based on participating in the program. One of the that, being empathic and supportive and main questions was – does the LGBT+ also open communication about basic topic go together with outdoor education needs. methods? Secondly, are the methods useable in youth work and what value do LGBT+ TOPIC IN THE it add? And lastly, how does the LGBT+ PROJECT topic reflect in the Estonian youth work frame? But firstly, a little bit about the Meanwhile, there were many activities program. that created open space for learning more about how and with what methods OUTDOOR EDUCATION IN to work with youngsters that belong THE PROGRAM or may belong to LGBT+ community. And also what is the situation in other During the program, there were different countries and organizations. opportunities to discover and experiment with outdoor education methods. Firstly, One of the powerful tools for me was the program started with a hike through acknowledging concepts (the principles the forest that was filled with different or ideas) in our society. Firstly we had teamwork, trust, and experiential to write down concepts that we learned learning activities. During the other from our parents, relatives, and society days of the program, the participants around us, for example, „pink color were introduced to many new tools of is for girls“, „boys will be boys“ etc. experiential learning and how to use After acknowledging that I have these them in different ways and situations. concepts in my head, I had to think do I truly believe in these, do they support me One of the most exciting activity was in my value-based life and am I ready to „Jacob’s ladder“ where participants had take ownership of my own concepts. This to climb up the ladder (that reached up activity helped me on a personal and to the top of the trees) with the support professional level to go over the things of the team. This activity brought up and that I’ve learned in early life. formed the most basic values that people 59
YOUTHWORK IN ESTONIA for working with LGBT+ youth. As a matter of fact, this program’s methods Now is the right time to ask the question are beneficial for working with all kinds of how can outdoors be an impactful tool of target groups, because the aspects for LGBT+ youth personal development. that were brought out are necessary The participants of the program brought for everyone’s individual development out many different aspects: regardless of the background. • outdoor activities are helping to HOW IS LGBT+ TOPIC explore boundaries and focus on self- COVERED IN ESTONIA’S development; YOUTH WORK? • challenging activities are supportive for Estonia has developed youth work gaining more self-confidence that helps field that has the law for regulation, to work with the fear of coming out; possibilities for studying it in three different universities and many national • creating safe space for communication, organizations that support the general trusting and taking care of others and process. The law says that: making friendships; • youth work is guided by the principles • youth can face life being braver by going of equal treatment, tolerance, and through challenging activities; partnership; • empowering LGBT+ youth about the • youth work is done for youth and with possibility of inclusion, the strength of youth involving them into decision the community and for taking initiative. making; According to this feedback, it is possible to say that outdoor activities are useful 60
• youth work is about creating the incompetence how to react, fear. Youth conditions for acquiring knowledge and centers are not directly educational skills based on the needs and interests of institutions, but youth work is done in young people. many schools and youth centers provide non-formal education. Therefore, it is This means that all the youngsters reasonable to say that LGBT+ topic is not (irrespective of their religious and/or covered publically in national educational family background, social status, sexual institutions and it is unknown how it’s orientation etc.) are involved in youth covered in youth centers, but there is work. They have the right to be equally a reason to believe that some youth attended into decision making process centers are working with this topic in based on their needs and interests. So, in secret. theory everything should be in order, but what about in practice? In conclusion, thanks to the “Out in the Open” program, we have more LGBT union of Estonia surveyed the knowledge to approach the LGBT+ school’s environment safety and youth field and work on it – there inclusion in the school year of 2017/2018. seems to be a need for it in Estonia. We CEO of the union wrote an article about know the importance of supporting and some of the results. This union has empowering LGBT+ youth community acted in the field of education for seven and we feel more aware of the situation years and during that time no school or in Estonia and other countries of Europe.” national educational institution has ever spoken for LGBT+ youth community. Authors | Jaanika Orav and There could be many reasons why: topics underestimation, misunderstanding, Liisi Trumm 61
6 The power of sparking new light in our youth work 62
“Every work at some point in our lives might get us into routine. Youth work is not any different in this case and many of us – youth workers, have had these kind of moments when we feel maybe a little too comfortable with our working methods and/or topics we cover. Out in the Open was a wake-up call that gently knocked on our shoulders and made it clear that there is so much more than what we have known and experienced. This training course combined 2 areas that are a big part of lives of those who have been gathered together. Needless to say that we all have been curious about how can we use outdoors as a method to talk about LGBT+ topics. So, following the best practices of non-formal education we lived through the experience of this combination throughout whole week, starting from the very first moments of the course. We got an amazing chance to, explore the limits of our comfort zone, and, as well as, push the borders of it a little bit further using all our senses. Our learning journey brought us all together through deep Latvian forests, dusty country roads, tall trees, beautiful meadows, long nights (brightened up by the moon) and rainy days. Not only these days have been filled with very extreme amounts of fun and adventurous exercises, but we also had many meaningful discussions about existing experience in how do we work with LGBT+ topics, what are the pillars of outdoor and/or experimental learning and how can we combine them. There is absolutely no surprise that bringing ourselves outdoors brings a whole different perspective and perception on both what is within 63
and around us. Nature and lack of our hand to create our very own local overwhelming amounts of information activities and involve our target groups makes it way easier to concentrate on we’re working with. The thought of whatever is happening at the moment meeting the rest of the project group and see that there is absolutely no need again in December 2019 was a great to overcomplicate things, but rather motivation for each and every one to make them simple, but significant. The share our newly gained knowledge and course also proved that not having fancy findings to the others and involve them outdoor equipment should not stop in activities we’ve created. Now, the ideas people from using it/being there as being born in the training course, also started outdoors is the best kind of equipment to live Out in the Open, just as we did a itself. The days we spent being Out in the moment ago. Open have been full of new information that very much inspired us to create 2 months after our first adventures new activities on our own which we will together as a team and all kinds of local be bringing back to our countries and activities that happened across the organizations, and testing ourselves Europe, organized by the Out-in-the- as creators of outdoor experience with Openers, we gathered again in Riga for added value, which are LGBT+ topics. one last, very important step that we are keen to make together in the project – Our personal journeys started at the share our experience with each other and moment when we made our first steps the rest of the world. Not only we had the outside of Rites. Now, we had the tools, intention to spread the word about the experience and everything else was in idea of combining outdoor/experiential 64
learning and LGBT+ topics, but also, exclusive – the first ever event in Riga. hopefully, be inspiration to somebody. Event that talks loudly not only about With great excitement we shared our combining outdoors with LGBT+ topics, stories, tools, lessons learned and but also the importance of common suggestions to each other and started cooperation, necessity to talk to those the preparations for the culmination – we have besides us, to reflect and share conference “Should I come out?” the lessons learned to inspire and spread the knowledge and tools that helps us The experience of creating and delivering create a better today and tomorrow this event can, somewhat, be compared for everyone. And so, after we told our to the work of a carpenter in a way when stories to those who gathered to see you work with your material with great and hear us, we’ve said our most sincere care, responsibility and love. Before “thank you”s to each other for being becoming something new, the material, a part of this story we’ve all created you work with, has been something else, together as said – not only to share the with many different possible purposes, knowledge, but also, hopefully, be an but here you are with what you have inspiration to somebody. in your hands and see how it becomes something amazing, something live, Latvian team believes that bringing something that others might or will LGBT+ (and not only) topics outdoors use for their purpose. The given time will spark new light in our work and we for preparations was short, but that are very much looking forward to being did not stop anybody of us to create part of it!” something extremely special, almost Author | Anastasija Laizane 65
About the Coordinating Organizations 66
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PIEDZiVOJUMA GARS ACTIVE RAINBOW PG] (english: Adventure Spirit) is An educational platform and community an experiential outdoor education of people that celebrate personal growth organisation that works with individual and inclusivity. We are committed to and group development. We want strengthen the implementation of Human to drive social progress in the world Rights and improve the quality of LGBT+ through new and innovative projects, spectrum education, by offering diverse thus empowering youth adaptability to learning opportunities for people to grow the ever changing circumstances, and and thrive. The platform was founded foster a beautiful, sustainable co-creation in 2014 with a growing community between humans and nature. of young individuals and activists internationally, whereas in March 2020, it More information: registered its first branch as a non-profit organization in Latvia. www.piedzivojumagars.lv More information: www.activerainbow.com 68
About Erasmus+ PARTICIPATING program PARTNERS ERASMUS+ is the EU’s programme to A warm thank you to our European support education, training, youth and partners involved in this project, sport in Europe. Its budget of €14.7 billion for this fascinating and enriching will provide opportunities for over 4 learning venture that we held million Europeans to study, train gain together, cooperating and involving experience, and volunteers abroad. Set ourselves proactively in all stages. The to last until 2020, Erasmus+ doesn’t contributions made and and the shared just have opportunities for students. vision for Out in the open were enormous Merging seven prior programmes, it assets in multiplying the results in our has opportunities for a wide variety of organizations and countries. individuals and organisations. Detailed information on these opportunities, Solidarity Mission including eligibility criteria, is available solidaritymission.org in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. An indicative funding guide for some Associazione V centralised opportunities is also available. agamondo Erasmus+ has opportunities for people FB: Associazion of all ages, helping them develop and Vagamondo share knowledge and experience at institutions and organisations in different Društvo DIH countries. Erasmus+ has opportunities http://www.dih.si for a wide range of organisations, including universities, education and Rouge Noorsootoo training providers, think-tanks, research Keskus organisations, and private businesses. www.noorteklubi.ee/ More information: ec.europa.eu/ Asociace DICE www.asociacedice.cz programmes/erasmus-plus Ticket2Europe www.ticket2europe.eu 69
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