For 7 days, 10 mothers, 29 to 65 years of age, from Belgium and Croatia will be brought together at the end of August 2023 for a series of workshops, during which, through methods of empirical and theoretical research, debate, critical thinking, drama and improvisation, they will explore the impact of environmental degradation on their lives and the lives of their families. During the camp, they will be mentored by the trainers of the two partner organizations on building personal skills enabling them to overcome their potential ‘environmental anxiety,’ to change (negative) behaviours, and to learn to initiate and manage a discussion on socially controversial topics. These soft skills will be used to stimulate peer learning and pro-active problem solving on personal and societal level. Mothers will be encouraged to share personal experiences and opinions, thus building knowledge and identifying solutions for more sustainable, environmentally-friendly living.
The town of Sibenik in Croatia where the retreat will take place will be used as an example of a coastal habitat whose residents are not yet sufficiently environmentally conscious of the negative impact of climate change and pollution on their town. The participants will be provided with opportunities to study the life of local residents, find commonalities with their own lives, and think of ways to serve as positive examples.
The final outputs of the retreat will be produced by the participants themselves who will choose a format of self-expression (debate, monologue, short sketch, presentation) to describe their feelings and express their opinions. During the retreat, the mothers will build rapport, share ideas, raise questions, learn from each other and brainstorm. They will jointly develop Guidelines for Understanding Environmental Protection and Economic Sustainability for other mothers.
