22nd – 29th April 2024. PUCK, POLAND

About

The training course “Connect Before Correct” will focus on developing empathic skills and knowledge that can be used to create meaningful and authentic relationships. After this training participants will improve their communication skills to better support young people in their emotional struggles. The program is based on the Nonviolent Communication approach and will offer both theoretical inputs and deep practice. 

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Empathy

Empathy has positive functions in the pursuit of many professions, but it is an exceptionally important skill in professions that provide assistance to others, such as teachers or youth workers. Developing empathy helps our own progress towards emotional maturity and wellbeing, but is also a key skill for creating authentic relations with others and supporting others to better understand what they want and need and how they can transform any difficult situation into a more positive outcome.

PROGRAMME

  • The concept of empathy and introduction to NVC

  • Possible barriers in communication with young people and not only
  • Deep listening- understanding the core of one’s expression, their feelings and needs and building trust and safety in relationships
  • Habitual ( dominant) language versus language of connection 
  • Hearing „difficult” messages – 4 perspectives of a listener. How to shift from reactivity to relatedness? 
  • Self-empathy and self- care as lifeservice tool for educators
  • Interpersonal neurobiology- understanding of human behaviour and the role of empathy in self-regulation 
  • Fours steps towards mutual connection and understanding:  observations versus interpretations, feelings versus thoughts, needs versus strategies, requests versus demands
  • Empathic Listening and Honest Self-Expression: Openness and curiosity, Connect before correct, Self-respect and boundaries, Introduction to respectful dialogue
  • Expressing „no” with honesty and respect 
  • Receiving „no” with empathy and curiosity

  • From conflict to dilemma- finding win-win solutions

LOCATION

 
PUCK is a picturesque coastal town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland, nestled on the southern edge of the Baltic Sea’s Puck Bay. Known for its rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, Puck boasts a charming blend of historical and maritime heritage. It serves as a popular destination for windsurfing and sailing enthusiasts, thanks to its favorable winds and shallow waters. The town’s highlights include the Gothic St. Peter and Paul’s Church, the Market Square, and the historic harbor, which contribute to its serene and inviting atmosphere. Puck’s scenic beauty and cultural sites make it a unique gem on the Polish coast.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

This training course  is designed for youth workers – people who are directly or indirectly involved in youth work. The participants must have an interest in adopting the learnt material in their own work in the youth context,  which means it’s essential that they work with young people. The whole project involves online preparation, a 6-day training course with full presence, and the follow-up activities implemented & documented by the participants in their home countries. We are hence looking for participants who are ready to get involved in the whole process and are willing to learn and contribute, share their perspectives & experiences, and inspire each other through the duration of the entire project. 
 
Important! The project is designed for people who are willing to increase their self-awareness and ready to share their feelings and their private stories in order to make their learning experience more authentic and profound. Although it’s not a therapy some therapeutic tools may be used and there is a chance that some strong emotions can come to surface. If you are following any therapy please consult with your therapist if the project is right for you.

TRAINERS

Sylwia Federico

Sylwia is a devoted educator and learner focused on fostering self-connection and living harmoniously with the world. With a degree in English Philology from the Pedagogical University of Warsaw, she spent 3 years teaching English in public schools before shifting to non-formal education in 2004. She has collaborated with various NGOs in Warsaw, leading cultural and educational initiatives like art festivals and workshops. Sylwia is skilled in Coaching, Dance and Movement Therapy, Nonviolent Communication, and is an Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner, currently pursuing Embodied Facilitation certification. With a decade of experience in personal development as a trainer and facilitator, she has created and led numerous training courses, particularly within the Erasmus+ framework. Recently, she focuses on body-based and therapeutic practices through arts and movement, aiming to enhance resilience and emotional well-being. She values learning, empathy, and authentic connections, dedicating herself to creating environments that nurture individuals toward holistic well-being.

Paulina Orbitowska- Fernandez 

Paulina loves working with people with her aim to bring more authenticity, (self) empathy, (self) respect to their lives and peace to the world. She works as a certified trainer of NVC (Nonviolent Communication) and eduScrum, coach, mediator, certified practitioner of Resonant Healing and an academic teacher. She has finished postgraduate studies in Leadership in Education, Nonviolent Communication according to Marshall Rosenberg, Train the Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and Mediations, at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, Poland. She has also finished Business and Life Coaching at the School of Empathic Trainers in Warsaw and a certification path to become Resonant Healing practitioner. She has worked as a trainer and coach since 2017. She works in Polish, English and Spanish with non-profit and business organizations, schools and universities, parents, doctors and leaders.  She loves Latin America and everything that is connected to it, its countries, languages, literature, nature, history and food, especially street food. 

 

From the moment the course began, it was clear that this wasn’t just about learning techniques—it was about fostering empathy, understanding, and trust. The trainers created a safe and supportive environment, making it easy for me to engage and reflect deeply on my interactions and behaviors.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.