Bear of Meeting - promoting personal growth as a key to sustain living in unity and piece
A project Bear of Meeting is promoting personal growth as a way to better face and navigate new challenges in our city and sustain living in unity and peace. The project is oriented on empowering educating and integrating under-resourced communities and citizens of Kočevje to be acceptive of each other and build meaningful relationships.
Local
Slovenia
Kočevje
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Zavod Embryo Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Gašper Last name of representative: Premože Gender: Male Nationality: Slovenia If relevant, please select your other nationality: Slovenia Function: Procurator / Enrepreneur / Project manager / Industrial and brand designer / Product developer / Mindfulness practitioner Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Rudnik 10 Town: Kočevje Postal code: 1330 Country: Slovenia Direct Tel:+386 51 354 185 E-mail:gasper.premoze@gmail.com Website:http://www.premoze.com
Name of the organisation(s): Društvo varnega zavetja Kočevje Type of organisation: Other public institution First name of representative: Jadranka Last name of representative: Glavač Gender: Female Nationality: Slovenia If relevant, please select your other nationality: Slovenia Function: Representative, Human Rights Trainer, Motivator and asistant for emotional stabilization / Network and coordinator institutional Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Ljubljanska cesta 7 Town: Kočevje Postal code: 1330 Country: Slovenia Direct Tel:+386 31 645 763 E-mail:glavacjadranka18@gmail.com Website:https://dvz.mailchimpsites.com/
Name of the organisation(s): Zavod Kočevsko Type of organisation: Other public institution First name of representative: Marko Last name of representative: Glavač Gender: Male Nationality: Slovenia If relevant, please select your other nationality: Slovenia Function: arttist, sculptor, conceptualis, organizer, mentor at Mansarta - art studio at Kulturni center Kočevje, Zavod Kočevsko Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Trg zbora odposlancev 62 Town: Kočevje Postal code: 1330 Country: Slovenia Direct Tel:+386 41 780 959 E-mail:glavacm33@gmail.com Website:https://www.kocevsko.com/en/
The "Bear of Meeting” initiative is the result of extensive research from an expert that works in the field of Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in conjunction with personal growth and empowerment.
Social exclusion and disengagement have been among the most significant concerns in modern societies. It is alarming that there is a growing number of people suffering from the various effects of unstable social, economic, and political situations. Vulnerable groups such as Roma are particularly at risk of being excluded and marginalized (a large number of community is with health or learning difficulties, early school leavers, and homeless people).
The goal of the project is to create a “safe haven” multidisciplinary solution that will serve as an educational, self-learning platform, physical space, artistic hub, and meeting point for the social inclusion of Roma and other marginalized groups in the Kočevje region.
The government has already adopted the National Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma. The project supports its implementation, pursuing main goals at various levels such as cooperation and networking between all key stakeholders, monitoring, anti-discrimination campaigns, and anti-discrimination training.
The main issues that in our expert opinion nationally govern activities can not be achieved in full potential are assisting local self-governments and implementing local inclusion action plans, in our case professionally curated mindfulness practices and “connecting with nature to reach yourself” strategy. And more importantly individual approach, tailor-made action plans in terms of equipping individuals with the needed knowledge and tangibles for personal growth, for creating a network of civil society organizations offering to monitor, for psychosocial support and social integration.
Under-resourced
Empowerment
Mindfulness
Art&design
Nature
The key objectives of “Bear of Meeting” in terms of sustainability are promoting equality, improving access to resources and services, empowering marginalized communities, and building inclusive and resilient societies through humanistic management and mindfulness practices that potentiate one another to foster an inclusive culture. An important objective is also reconnecting with nature given the geographic area of interest.
The major task ahead to achieve these objectives is a multi-stakeholder approach. Involving governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the communities themselves. Strategies will include:
Providing education and training opportunities to increase employability, and overall well-being
Developing the practice of mindfulness that nourishes to form community across local, cultural, class, and racial divides and generates societies,
Implementing practices of reconnecting with nature and educating on its benefits,
Providing affordable services, Implementing anti-discrimination policies and promoting diversity,
Creating livelihood opportunities and access through art,
Strengthening community-based organizations and networks,
Advocating for the rights of marginalized groups,
Encouraging private sector investment in sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The initiative will be exemplary in terms of Integrating sustainable green school-like initiatives that incorporate sustainable design, renewable energy systems, and environmental stewardship into project operations and culture. We aim towards community-based environmental education programs that engage marginal groups in hands-on, place-based learning experiences. Also, important is the use of technology, such as online learning platforms and virtual reality simulations, to increase access to sustainability education and promote experiential (self) learning.
The beauty of the “Bear of Meeting'' construction, acquired from mathematical geometry brings an undoubtedly simple elegant symbol that sticks in mind and as an ever-present object, always reminds people about an important value - personal growth.
We inform and teach people through symbols, objects, lectures, articles, audio tapes, events, performances, radio and TV shows…
Well-known symbols show how a good graphic design and repetitive representation of an idea bring a strong sense of belonging to a new idea. That is something we do in our city and border area. With widely spread messages, material representations, and supporting events like art performances, we are legitimizing the theme of personal growth, mental health, vulnerability, and acceptance. We imagined of what the message presented with a symbol of a bear with a growing tree inside will do to people's awareness. They will drive by every day, knowing what the meaning of it is. When we add educative content, positive results will be enormous.
The small 2.5m tall “Bear of Meeting” product with a seat inside, is an object that stands for calming down, for giving it a break, for meeting with nature, for meeting with your shadows and potentials, meeting with others that seem different… This is not a church, not an idol, not a temple, not a bench or a chair. It is a provocative, intriguing, humorous but dignified representation of a simple idea: You can always grow inside. It encourages people to bring awareness to their everyday life, bringing a sense of power, peace, connection, and a meditative state of mind. We want to build these qualities to better face and navigate the upcoming challenges in our city.
The same concept can simply be duplicated around the world. Legitimizing personal growth in an environment that is not aware of this quality. Doing it through art and meaningful content and exposing good examples, and open topics about it by building a physical representation of personal growth.
The key objective in terms of inclusion is to make the initiative available, free, and accessible to each and every individual in the Kočevje region, who needs and is willing to engage, especially the marginal group Roma. We are happy to announce that we came to an agreement with the municipality of Kočevje to start creating the “Bear of Meeting” physical spot and are planning to do more in the near future. For the initiative to work as planned, the key is to bring together stakeholders from different sectors, that is we are happy that local municipality, regional governments, recognized experts in the field of social inclusion of Roma people, and mindfulness and personal growth coaches all recognized the problem we are trying to address and are already working with us towards the same goal.
Our goal is to create Community-led initiatives that empower Roma to take ownership of their own development, by involving them in decision-making processes and providing resources and support to address their specific needs and priorities.
The social models that we are implementing are based on methods that promote mutual understanding and respect between Roma and non-Roma communities, addressing prejudice and discrimination and fostering a sense of shared belonging. Access to quality empowerment opportunities for Roma individuals and communities, including support and targeted training programs, to increase social and economic mobility, mindfulness development, and connection to nature, all part of larger scale life enrichment programs that we are trying to build.
In the past there were initiatives that were focused on health and social services that are culturally sensitive and responsive to the specific needs of Roma communities, others addressed Anti-discrimination policies and programs, including awareness-raising and monitoring mechanisms, to address the systemic barriers faced by Roma communities. We support those but also see the crucial areas that were left out.
The main goal is to achieve an Increased mental state and consequently social security for marginalized groups, leading to improved quality of life and reduced poverty. Another important benefit is enhanced community cohesion, by fostering mutual understanding and respect among diverse groups and reducing prejudice and discrimination on one side and mental development for individuals on the other. Improved mental health outcomes are the most important results that we expect from this initiative. We strive to involve marginalized groups in decision-making processes and give them a voice in shaping their own communities and society. Promoting diversity and inclusion in the broader society, by raising awareness and challenging systemic barriers to full participation, and expanding initiative on other regions that are facing similar problems.
As far as civil society goes, the initiative started with a community-based organization and a non-profit group that has an extensive history of working directly with marginalized populations to address their specific needs and challenges. Added were activists and advocacy groups that raise awareness and advocate for policies and programs that promote social inclusion and address systemic barriers to full participation. We included Roma representative organizations that advocate for the community and seek to improve the social, and economic security, and development of marginalized populations. Regional educational institutions and programs that promote intercultural understanding and provide access to quality education and training opportunities also showed support and are part of the initiative through monitoring. Along with the aforementioned local authorities, in today's world Media outlets that promote diversity and inclusion and give voice to marginalized communities and perspectives are a must so we are involving them in every step of the initiative.
The local municipality is included in the initiative from the start, helping with experience in the field of working with Roma, and also serves as an investor in implementing the “Bear of Meeting” design structure and offering the locations where the art installations and programs will be implemented.
Art studio Mansarta serves as a hub for artists that were involved in designing the art installation of “Bear of Meeting” incorporating traditional, locally known elements that serve as reminders and vital roles in strengthening the Cultural identity of the region.
Local society “Varno Zavetje” (transl. Safe shelter) advocates for marginal groups and has an extensive history of projects targetings such populations. Society members are experts in creating programs focusing on mindfulness, development, protecting the most vulnerable groups, and providing equal opportunities.
Local and also national Roma organization is the key stakeholder that is serving as monitoring partner in the initiative. Roma nonprofit and official municipal Roma representatives are also included in the initiative, especially in the program development part.
A regional public woodworking Company (Kočevski Les) also showed support and became a donator of the project, as did some local and regional media outlets which will give us much-needed exposure. Roma national tv show will also cover the initiative.
We intend to reach 900 people of the Roma population (100%) in the Kočevje region and 400 people of the general population through our workshops and educational content. As far as overall awareness goes, we will reach 20.000 individuals directly and through regional and national media this number will reach 100.000.
The collaboration of people working in three different fields of work results in innovative projects with a strong touch with reality. The main three operators of the project and their contributions are
mag. Marko Glavač (Sculptor / Artist / Mentor / Performer / Event conceptualization):
- gives the main initiative by pointing out the need for social change
- sets a vision and empowerment
- clarifies our solutions by connecting stories in a homogenous, integral whole
- he builds a sense of determination and achievability
- he points out what works in terms of effective visual language and
- he shows us the path to go when we don't know how to decide
Gašper Premože (Entrepreneur, Industrial & brand design / Project manager / Mindfulness & personal growth trainer):
- brings a systematic approach to the execution of the project
- takes care of functionality and engineering of the product
- connects resources and people so that the project functions as a whole.
- designs a product, prepares the product for production
- presents the project to the public by speaking and writing
Jadranka Glavač (Social work manager / Human rights / Social economy / Social business models)
- empowers us and pushes things further toward execution when things go harsh
- designs content that we use to work with under-resourced communities
- initiate and organizes the activities in which we work with under-resourced communities
- Search for resources and people that we need in order to execute the project
Ela Šalehar and Lana Pečnik (First-year students / Artists / Conceptualists)
- bring sensitivity and depths observance, of the situation in our city
- provides fresh unconcerned views and provide fresh “out of the box” solutions
Working together we cover a large territory of skills, knowledge, expertise, resources, and social network, that we need to execute the complex multidisciplinary project.
Our approach includes a combination of expertise, unique structure design, mindfulness, and nature. A combination that evokes a sense of being “home” in nature could be linked to our life satisfaction. Innovative approaches that our initiative will continue to implement include Biophilic design. This approach to architecture and design incorporates elements of nature into buildings and urban environments to enhance human well-being and reduce stress. Nature-based therapy involves engaging with nature to improve mental health and well-being. This can include activities such as hiking, gardening, and bird watching. A special form of forest Bathing. The practice originated in Japan and involves spending time in forests to improve health and well-being. Ecotherapy is a form of therapy that involves working with nature to improve mental health. In our case includes activities participating in conservation projects. We will include aspects of Green exercise, a physical activity that takes place in green spaces, parks, and forests, and has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health.
There were many attempts to implement Roma inclusion in the past and our approach that is based on extensive research breaks traditional patterns of accessing the most vulnerable. We are ambassadors of community-Led Development. Empowering the Roma community to participate in the design and implementation of projects that address their needs and priorities. Intercultural Education and Awareness-Raising. Our programs promote intercultural education and raise awareness about Roma culture and history and will help to break down stereotypes and prejudices and foster a sense of understanding. Cultural and Artistic Expression: Supporting Roma's cultural and artistic expression through our initiative which will include cultural festivals, concerts, and art exhibitions can help to promote Roma culture and foster a sense of belonging.
the "Bear of Meeting” initiative is developed in a way that basically every part of it can be transferred to another location with minimal to zero modification. Art installation process and technology can be easily re-designed to resemble the local natural attractions or historic characteristics, initiative practices, and programs can be transferred through the education of expert facilitators and are easily applicable to many other marginal groups because of the goals they are designed to address. Used Methodology of multi-dimensional forms which require the mobilization of a wide range of policies under that overall strategy can all be transferred.
Incorporating and legitimizing personal growth is an innovative approach that we have been testing for years. Quick results inspired us to do more in that direction, so we are working with the government to bring professionals from another country to empower our organizations to implement personal growth in their working schedule and empower under-resourced communities (especially Roma people) to use personal growth to improve their life situations. We want to bring kids to school and nursery schools and teach them language so they could establish connections and integrate into society. We are working with women that are victims of physical and sexual abuse. We empower them. We support the survivors of abuse to connect with their inner power and change their lives.
Community-led development is an approach that puts communities at the center of decision-making and implementation. It empowers communities to take the lead in identifying their own priorities and to manage projects that address those priorities. Involving all members of the community, including marginalized groups helps to create more equitable and sustainable development outcomes that benefit everyone.
The cultural and Artistic Expression method leverages the power of the arts, including music, dance, theater, and visual arts, to bring people together and break down barriers. This method can also help to raise awareness about social issues, promote understanding and respect for different cultures, and foster a sense of belonging and identity. Practicing audience engagement includes showcasing work by artists from diverse backgrounds, creating accessible environments, and encouraging dialogue. By providing opportunities for diverse communities to come together and express themselves through the arts, cultural expression can help to build bridges, challenge stereotypes, and promote a more inclusive and equitable society.
One of our major goals is to reduce prejudice and discrimination. Roma people are often subject to negative stereotypes leading to discrimination in various areas. Challenges such as lack of education opportunities are common with Roma people. They face significant barriers to accessing employment, resulting in low levels of literacy and skills, which further perpetuates the cycle of exclusion and lower personal growth levels. Inadequate housing and living conditions that Roma people often live in substandard and segregated housing conditions, which contributes to poor physical and mental health and well-being. Limited political representation and participation are big issues among Roma people. Limited representation and participation in political processes limits their ability to influence decision-making and have their rights and needs to be recognized and addressed. We are including Roma representatives in every step of our initiative.
A big challenge that was recognized already in the research phase is the lack of understanding of the concept of using Art and nature as methods for personal growth. Some individuals may not understand the value and benefits of using art as a method for personal growth, making it a challenge to reach and engage those in need. Resistance to change might also be one of the biggest issues and some may find it difficult to embrace new ways of thinking and self-expression, personal growth, and its benefits, especially through art. We are aware that Art-based personal growth programs often require skilled facilitators, who can guide individuals through the process and help them unlock their full potential.
Another major challenge represents the increasing use of technology and digital devices that can distract individuals from connecting with nature and disconnect them from their surroundings. The degradation of natural environments can limit the opportunities for individuals to connect with nature and experience its benefits.
In this stage, non-profit organization Embryo led the product development. The design was created in cooperation with “Save Haven” society another non-profit and public institution in Kočevsko. All three organizations and their seasoned experts created multi-year educational and awareness-raising programs. Also, we came to an agreement with the municipality of Kočevje that agreed to support the project in terms of providing a location for placement of design installation and helping with all needed infrastructure. The location for the first installation was already confirmed and it is already in the works (letter of intent and confirmations included). Local business incubators expressed support, and so did the regional woodworking company that will also provide funds for wood materials for art installations. Local and regional media outlets (TV stations, Radio, and newspapers) already expressed interest in cooperation and covering the initiative through various media platforms. The initiative also made a connection with the main stakeholder Roma. We included Roma non-profit in every step of the initiative and also an official Roma representative that will serve as a much-needed mediator.
The main aim is to support fairness. The idea to support equity and justice for current and future generations and learn from previous generations aligns with our core mission and represents everything e stand for.
Promoting nature is also the competence that we try to bring to life in every action we take. Especially in the Kočevsko area which is more than 70% forest.
Adaptability is important competence especially when we are talking about social challenges marginal groups such as Roma have to endure on daily basis.
We will also contribute to developing the exploratory thinking of individuals and other stakeholders included in our program that supports and encourages creativity and using new approaches to problem-solving.
Political agency is something that we must and will include in our initiative, especially in terms of giving Roma an additional voice in the community.
Collective action is also the main focus of our initiative since from the very start we try to incorporate and promote a cross-sector and multi-disciplinary approach.
In terms of the individual approach, we aim to develop competencies such as emotional intelligence that leads to understanding and managing emotions in oneself and others. Mindfulness and Self-awareness ( Increased awareness of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors). Resilience is a very important competence that we are trying to install into members of marginal groups through our initiative process. Another important competence is creative thinking. The ability to generate innovative ideas and approaches to problem-solving is more crucial in today's world than ever so our program has a big emphasis on it. Problem-solving is similarly important. Ability to analyze complex situations and develop effective solutions.
And in the end self-motivation. The ability to motivate oneself towards personal and professional goals is one of the main goals that we try to achieve with as many individuals as possible.
