"<< Background >>We are meeting the needs of mothers and professionals working with mothers for additional content, support and connection. Mothers are increasingly aware of the looming climate crisis and are fearful of the world for their children. This project will create and share learning tools, including digital tools and resources to support mothers in becoming agents of change in their families and communities: in being proactive with strategies to initiate thinking, behavioural and cultural changes in tackling climate change.We are applying for this project because we were very successful as a team previously, and produced some innovative, beautiful and relevant tools for mothers and professionals working with mothers. These tools are being used across the world since our first strategic partnership finished in 2020. The end of the project coincided with the global pandemic and an increasingly urgent ecological crisis. In this specific historical moment the partnership intends to integrate new practices and methods into their activities to tackle the current social and ecological crisis. The project will allow the partnership to gain international experience in the field of strategic development, leadership, digital skills and competences in the field of adult learning, using all these tools to raise awareness about environmental and climate-change challenges. This project will meet the needs of greater international collaboration and dissemination of these materials and methodologies. TARGET GROUPS:1. mothers, as adult learners, wanting to connect to nature and are developing an awareness of environmental issues like climate change, discovering their interest in sustainable lifestyles2. professionals working with mothers, interested in building up communities of mothers and inspire them towards environmental sustainability. Based on our experience these two groups are often blended, mothers wanting to become helpers and/or providing peer support.NEEDS OF TARGET GROUP: We talked to about 150 mothers and professionals at multiplier events in 2020 (“Mother Nature - strengthening professional capacity to support mothers in personal transformation”) in Slovenia, Italy, Germany, Hungary, and UK about what they found useful in our project and what further tools would support their work. We conducted a target needs analysis (http://bit.ly/MotherNatureAnalysis) between January-March, 2020 with 105 women. The lessons learnt from the survey we conducted are:There is a strong need for networking and community for mothers and professionals (blending targetgroups)Online tools are considered very valuable both from mothers and professionals, for many reasons, including:-Online courses are less time-consuming for mothers that often have limited capacity to travel and to leave their homes.-Online courses are considered more affordable and within reach for a wider audience.-The current situation (Covid-19 emergency) calls for a rethinking of our learning habitsTo increase our personal Nature connection can strengthen our engagement in tackling climate change in our everyday lifestyle choices, also time spent outdoors is needed to counterbalance for the longer amount of time we tend to spend online.Professionals were asked to outline, in an open question, what knowledge, skills and information could help them to improve their support for mothers. These are the main topics that were mentioned: 1. How to hold space for circles and groups (""How to engage mothers in mother circles, how to create and keep a lively community"" ""A course for mothers to lead regular, self-helping mothers group""); 2. Activities and tools to empower mothers: Nature connection, zero-waste and personal growth were the most named topics.The pandemic has a great impact on women (specially single mums) some have lost part time work etc and need to have access to training for free in order to get the benefits and this will then help them get back to work in the future<< Objectives >>We want to achieve an increase in ecological literacy and strategies for tackling climate change, and enhanced capacity for online learning and networking of mothers and professionals working with mothers.Environment and fight against climate change is the main focus of the project, as we aim to support mothers to become change agents towards ecological sustainability, both in their immediate environment as families, and both in their role of providing peer support for other women in the form of mother circles. We will be fostering ecological literacy through nature connection activities - a nature connection handbook and visual aid. These nature connection practices will lead mothers to a greater care for the natural environment and increased ecological understanding, which will in turn provide them with peer support and necessary skills to tackle climate change. The routes will include cultural, thinking and behavioural change of mothers such as changes in home and travel energy consumption and waste habits. These skills gained will benefit mothers and their wider networks of families and communities.Our project aims to improve the competences of mothers to be able to become these agents of change towards a more ecological way of living - and we consider mothers not only adult learners, also change agents, with a great influence on their immediate communities, their families' lifestyles and children's future habits.Addressing digital transformation became more important during the COVID pandemic where mothers became even more isolated and need even more peer support and community. Through our project results, women, mothers across Europe will gain tools and competences to enhance this connectedness through digital means, and use innovative digital learning tools.<< Implementation >>We have chosen the following project results to reach our objectives and to meet these priorities; a handbook, a digital e-learning course, a visual aid and podcast series. These will in turn be supported by 2 in person training courses and multiplier events in person and online. The e-learning course on how to run Mother Nature circles will also initiate many happening in the partner countries.The handbook relates to climate change and digital learning because it will disseminate information and practices for tackling climate change and encouraging nature connection in mothers, in a low carbon and easily available digital format.The e-learning course for mothers to run Mother Nature circles will engage mothers internationally across a digital platform. Thereby increasing the competencies of mothers to engage digitally. These Mother’s circles will also provide valuable peer support for the cultural and behavioural changes and dissemination of the tools.The visual aid will focus on nature connection practices and principles that support an increasing ecological literacy. The visual aspect is crucial in grabbing user's attention, maintaining accessibility and is an innovative way to convey messages relating to tackling climate change.The podcasts will engage mothers new to nature connection and practices tackling climate change and enable them to increase their awareness of the issues and encourage them to move further in their learning through the handbook, visual aid and ecourse. Additional activities include multiplier events in the 4 partner countries and online, where we will disseminate the outcomes of the project to mothers and professionals.Two face to face courses where project partners, mothers and professionals develop skills and tools for nature connection and tackling climate change, therefore to become agents of change towards a more sustainable world.<< Results >>CONCRETE OUTCOMES1. Development of a handbook “Nature Connection for Mothers”. This will develop nature connection practices and share green lifestyle tips. This will be tested with 20 learners from partner countries during a 5 day residential training in Hungary. The final version will be published on the mothernatureproject.org website, in 4 languages and downloaded 500 times. 2. E-learning course “Leading Mother Nature Circles” will be published on an e-learning platform in English and subtitled in 3 languages, with at least 400 people enrolled. At least 40 of the learners will go on to lead Mother Circles, online and/or in person in their communities, reaching an additional 200 women. 3. A “Mothers in Nature” visual aid on Nature Connection and Ecological Lifestyles will be produced and this will be tested with 20 learners from partner countries during a 5 day residential training in Hungary and the final version will be published on the mothernatureproject.org website, in 4 languages and will be downloaded 500 times. 4. “Mother Nature Podcast” this audio material will be published in English (season 1 and 2) and in Italian, Slovenian and Hungarian (season 2,) and will total at least 75 podcasts and will be downloaded or listened to 10,000 times from the mothernatureproject.org website and other podcast hosting platforms.5. A 5 day “Nature connection for mothers” training in Hungary with 26 participants (20 learners + 6 staff) from Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and UK. They will experience nature connection tools and gain competences to use and disseminate them.6. A 5 day “Mother Nature in Action” training in Slovenia with 26 participants (20 learners + 6 staff) from Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and UK, to learn how to use Mother Nature tools.7. During 10 dissemination-multiplier events across the 4 partner countries 400 mothers and professionals working with mothers are introduced to the outputs of the project.8. We will join at least 10 professional events (in person or online) during the project duration to further spread the project (conferences, online workshops).9. Through our communication channels we reach from the start to the end of the project:*Website: mothernatureproject.org 8000 visitors*4 languages newsletter: 3000 recipients *Facebook pages (all languages): 5000 followers*Facebook groups (all languages): 800 members*Instagram pages (all languages): 2000 followers*MN podcast: 10000 listensADDITIONAL OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT:- With a focus on the burning global issues (pandemic and climate change), we are providing online learning tools, networking and support platforms for mothers, equipping mothers with skills to navigate the current crisis and to take active action at their local level to foster sustainable and ecological practices in response to climate change.- Partners will integrate new practices, shared through collaborative working into their activities. Staff members will gain international experience in the field of strategic development, leadership, ICT skills, project coordination and management, contributing to their professional development.- Participants, staff, associated partners and the wider public reached through multiplier events and online media will deepen their understanding on: motherhood as part of life-long learning, nature connection activities, mothers as empowered leaders and influencers of sustainable lifestyle.- Strengthened local, regional, national and European networks of mothers and professionals.- Functioning network will be established between the partner organisations, with the potential to develop further joint activities like international training courses and EU-projects- Valuable contribution in the fields of European adult education and support services for mothers - Increased capacity of mothers to be active change agents through organising learning and self-help support circles for mothers based on our free online resources."

Mother Nature - strengthening professional capacity to support mothers in personal transformation Mother Nature aimed to equip professionals with adult learning tools and skills to support and empower mothers in developing, recognising and validating skills acquired through the informal learning experience of becoming mothers in order to foster employability, socio-educational and professional development. Our concrete objectives were: 1. to develop and test adult learning resources (website and online forum, training curriculum, workbook and visual aid) with a minimum of 30 participants (mothers and professional educators) and reaching a minimum of 6800 wider audience through various means of communication; 2. to improve professional competences and skills of up to 415 professionals working with mothers 3. to develop and disseminate a “Peer-to-peer mother learning group” model with mothers and test it with a minimum of 50 mothers 4. to engage up to 10 mothers in the 5 partner countries in opportunities to organise and lead peer to peer groups in their communities (involving 3 of disadvantaged target group: single mothers); 5. to consolidate and disseminate the project’s best practices in the 5 partner countries and to professionals throughout the EU with freely available online resources. Concrete results:- We designed and set up a website and online forum to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in non-formal learning programmes for mothers (mothernatureproject.org). The website reached 7230 views by the end of February, 2020, reaching 144% of our target. Our online forum (https://mother-nature.mn.co) with 196 members by the end of February, 2020, reaching 130% of our target.- We developed and published the Mother's Journey training curriculum and Mother Nature guidebook, by the end of February extracts were downloaded 392 times, reaching 156% of our target- We developed a FB page for dissemination of the results of the project, reaching 678 followers by the end of February, reaching 271% of our target- We created a pilot training and piloted our methodology with 15 participants, mothers, including 3 single mothers during our pilot training course in July, 2018, reaching 100% of our target- We trained 23 professionals supporting mothers based on our methodology, in March, 2019, reaching 153% os our target- We developed a network of facilitators providing the Mother's Journey course across Europe, piloting our learning curriculum as the Mother's Journey Course with 100 mothers by the end of February, 2020, reaching 250% of our target- We created within our Guidebook a chapter for supporting work of individuals in peer-to-peer mother learning groups.- We created a visual aid consisting a deck of 42 cards and a user's guidebook, to support learning on the topic that has been used, tested and promoted during the project.- We disseminated the project results through multiplier events in different countries with 170 participants in total. As project management and decision making mthodology we used Sociocracy which is a system of governance and organisational structure. As design tool we used permaculture which is a powerful design method for integrative sustainable systems. We will adopt permaculture principles & strategies for running our project. To develop our learning resources we used art- and nature-based learning methods, learning based on mindfulness, group sharing, deep listening and creative design. Impact at local level: * 22 mothers and 22 professionals participating in 2 international courses have strengthened their capacities to organise and lead courses and peer-to-peer groups of mothers* 100 mothers participating in the 18 local led Mother's Journey test courses have been through a process strengthening their consciousness of their role as mothers, and they have recognized and strengthen the soft skills developed through motherhood.* Professionals working with mothers are able to implement the tools learned during the training course (C2) in their daily work with mothers and families.Impact at international level:* Through our Online forum we have involved 260 mothers and professionals working with mothers. Extracts of O2 and O3 are available on the platform. * Mothers and professionals working with mothers that are using Mother Nature’s tools can share their experiences, ask for peer-to-peer consultancy, share experiences. A network of professionals and mothers leading peer groups is developing on the online forum, which will be available after th eend of the project and group leaders in Europe.Impact at European and international level:* increased international networking of facilitators of mother circles after September, 2019 when we organised our European Launch of Mother Nature tools* increased cooperation and exchange of information through our website, online forum, FB pages and the international courses we organised

"<< Objectives >>An overall objective we follow with the project is to reach more parents in Europe with ""Mindful Compassionate Parenting"" (MCP) and to support them to reduce stress in their family life and strengthen their capacities of self-care and compassion. Secondly we are establishing the foundations for an European network of professionals working with MCP. We are going to develop training pathways for these professionals and accompanying resources to support their learning and development process.<< Implementation >>Two residential learning and training activities for the interested professionals: Three online orientation seminars of three days and one MCP teacher training of six days. As resources we develop a detailed teacher manual and a practical handbook for parents in English, German and Italian. To reach out to many educators, facilitators and others interested in MCP we will develop a detailed promotion strategy and a website. Lastly we develop a concept for an European network of MCP professionals.<< Results >>At the end we expect to have an enlarged group of organisations and individuals trained and motivated to expand the work of Mindful Compassionate Parenting - and ready to engage in the set up of an European network. Furthermore we will have developed a plan for training pathways for professionals, a teacher manual and a practical handbook directly for parents both in three languages. Through our website, the newsletter and other promotion tools we reach out to hundreds of other professionals."

"Inner Pathways was carried out in a partnership between seven organisations from six European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Italy and UK). We aimed to strengthen educators’ competences by developing a complex, innovative non-formal adult learning methodology in the field of ecological and social sustainability towards a regenerative culture and ways of living.We built an international platform with educational tools available at https://innerpathways.eu for educators, trainers, community leadersWe developed educational tools: a Story Book of personal stories about inner shift to a sustainable lifestyle, a digital training module and a downloadable Trainer's guide with two additional educational tools (foretelling dice and modus mandala) and a series of 20 audio podcasts about regenerative ways of living.We carried out an international study involving 30 people from the 6 partner countries, based phenomenological research on the relationship between their inner motivations, well-being and inner behavioural change leading towards outer sustainable lifestyle changes, and the Study titled ""You can only give what you have"" is available on our website. Extracts in 6 languages (English, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, German, Czech) are available of the Trainer's guide and the Story Book. Our main target group are facilitators and educators working in learning for sustainability, and a wider community of educators and trainers working in other fields of adult learning. Our special target group are organisers and leaders in rural ecological communities, additionally adult learners. The project team planned to meet 2 times during the 27 months of the project at transnational project meetings in Hungary and in Italy. In 2019 we organised two 5-days Joint Staff Training courses in the Czech Republic for 21 colleagues. We held an online course called ""Inner Pathways Learning Journey"" to test and develop our digital curriculum, held online between April - June, 2020 with 30 participants from the project partner countries, partly educators and trainers, partly community organisers living in rural ecological communities..In our project management we used Sociocracy which is a system of governance and organisational structure. As facilitation tools during transnational meetings we used The Way of Council, Sociocracy, and the Theory U and social presencing theatre, as well as The Work That Reconnects and nature-based learning methodologies. We disseminated the results during online and in person multiplier events, over our website, our FB page, our partners online platforms, and the podcasts on: Breaker, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify.Through this intensive cooperation partners exchanged, learnt and developed innovative, practical educational tools. Trainers, educators and facilitators participating in the three trainings strengthened their professional competences. Community organizers became part of an international support network of colleagues and peers, acquired communication and learning methods that will make their work in their local communities more effective. The project results reached some networks in the field of non-formal adult learning and teaching for sustainability on the regional, national and European levels. International collaboration strengthened amongst the partner organisations and we are planning further educational collaborations between the partnership."