We Were There Too – at the Source Conference!
TANDEM professionals Kriszta Molnár and Mária Borvák attended this year's Source Conference, where they also facilitated a workshop.
The conference also served as a dissemination event for the ReConnection project.
The Source Conference provides a space for professionals working with young people to come together, connect, find inspiration, recharge and develop professionally through experiential education. Together, they explore how to offer meaningful support in today's rapidly changing world. At the heart of the conference is the well-being of young people: how they are doing, what challenges they face, and who is there to support them – particularly those in vulnerable situations.
Molnár Kriszta shares her reflections on the conference:
“Since TANDEM began collaborating with the Élményakadémia Association, significant changes have taken place in the work of both organisations. Labyrinths have become increasingly common in Élményakadémia's programmes, while we at TANDEM have become much more confident in using outdoor education tools, such as low ropes course elements. Even more importantly, we have developed a much deeper understanding of the experiences of vulnerable young people with backgrounds marked by trauma, and we are now better equipped to create environments that support their learning.
On 11–12 September, Mária Borvák and I represented the TANDEM team in Hatvan, Hungary. Through a labyrinth-walking workshop, we demonstrated the possibilities offered by this magical tool – including how it can help us, as professionals in helping roles, work on our inner stability and explore our professional identity.
It was a wonderful experience to be part of such a welcoming and accepting environment. As many others also expressed, we truly enjoyed being surrounded by like-minded trainers, youth workers, educators and psychologists who understood one another so well.
We had never built a labyrinth out of hay before, but this time the material was available, so we covered our already constructed labyrinth of branches with a soft, gentle layer of hay. This made it both more inviting and more visible.
We had the opportunity to guide participants from a wonderfully international group through the entrance of the labyrinth. It was truly uplifting to witness how deeply they were touched by the experience, to see their reactions and their openness.
Of course, we also learned a great deal as participants ourselves – about trauma-sensitive approaches, the opportunities offered by movement, music and creative activities, and the relationship between learning and stress.
We are delighted by all the new connections we made and deeply grateful to the organisers for their dedication and hard work.”
Project Title: ReConnection –
Connections, integration and future planning for youth with fewer opportunities
Project Identification Number: 2024-1-SK02-KA210-YOU-000247398
This project is supported by the European Union.
Partners:
