EKO is happy to announce that one more amazing youth exchange has been successfully completed. The project “Interspecies Dialogue” united 28 young participants from Italy, France, Greece and Croatia. It was organized by the Italian organization Ostello dei Balocchi, and took place in Casalino di  Ligonchio (Italy) from 16 to 25 of October 2023. 

Aims & Objectives of the project 

The project aimed to re-establish a connection/empathic relationship between people and the environment. The human-animal-environment relationship became a metaphor for improving the empathic-universal language and the relationship with others became the means of sharing an experience that was the same for everyone as well as a way of approaching environmental sustainability and respect for our ecosystem once again.  Knowledge, resources, and opportunities about Erasmus+ were learned by participants as well. 

More specifically the objectives were:

• Establish relations with the environment
• Learn and connect with yourself 
• Approaching environmental sustainability and respect
• Explore different levels of communication

Workshops & Activities of the project 

Through this project, participants had the opportunity to get better in some key competencies such as multilingual competence, personal, social and learning to learn competence. During  the week, they worked with a non-formal methodology, daily meditation practices alternated with observation and analysis of the environment and relations with non-humans (dogs, donkeys, environment). They also used relational practices (non-verbal communication) between humans and non- humans. Dogs and donkeys especially were their companions while carrying out different activities. Last but not least they did somatic practices of body perception through work on the senses: touch, hearing, sight, and trust, through elements of Contact Improvisation and Body Mind Centering.

An amazing opportunity and a great experience for EKO’s team

Panos, Katerina, Vivian, Manos, Vasilis, and Ilias were the members of this amazing Greek team whom we really wanna thank for all their contribution and collaboration throughout the project!

As EKO, we are very grateful for that amazing opportunity given to the Greek team and we thank our partner Ostello dei Bolocchi and the members of the hosting organization for all their hard work and for creating such an impactful project!

Thank you – Ευχαριστούμε – Grazi