Spikey's Clinic for Professional Dreamers

We applied for this project to address the rising issue of burnout among youth workers, especially exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to support "professional dreamers" like youth w...

Through this project, we aimed to raise awareness about the mental and emotional wellbeing challenges faced by youth workers and prevent burnout by enhancing peer support and supervision. We sought to improve the quality and innovation in youth work by developing tools that promote mindfulness and reduce stress. Additionally, we aimed to foster international collaboration and exchange good practices among partners. Ultimately, we wanted to empower youth workers by celebrating their role, promoting positive self-commitment, and enhancing their contributions to the community despite the pandemic’s challenges.

We implemented the following activities in our project: 1)PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES - detailed project planning, online meetings, formation of work teams, communication, documentation of activities, monitoring, financial arrangements, dissemination, evaluation, reporting 2) TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT MEETINGS: Four meetings were held, each corresponding to different phases of the Dragon Dreaming methodology. TPM1 - kick-off meeting Rijeka (Croatia) 03-2022 TPM2 - Greece 09-2022 TPM3 - Italy 11-2023 TPM4 - Rijeka (Croatia) 05-2024 3) LTTA: Conducted two LTTA sessions, known as "Spikey's Clinics," to develop and test methodologies and tools (Zlatna Greda (CRO) and Rabhka Zdroj (PL). 4) INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES IO1 - Methodology - based on the best practices from the partner organisations in well-being, peer coaching and stress management IO2 - Spikey´s Deck of Remedies - printed and online version of cards (designing the excercises, testing, evaluating, graphic design, distributing) IO3 - "Professional Dreamers" educational video documentary series - 25 interviews with youth workers, in which they shared their firsthand experiences dealing with workplace stress and adopting nurturing practices 5) Multiplier Events: Organized five events to disseminate project results and share innovative practices (2xCroatia, Greece, Italy, Poland) Phase-Based Activities: Dreaming: Shared experiences and developed the “Spikey's Clinic for Professional Dreamers” methodology, focusing on mental well-being and burnout awareness. Planning: Refined the methodology and designed the “Spikey's Deck of Remedies” deck of cards, enhancing youth work tools (web and printed version). Doing: Implemented and analyzed the “Spikey's Clinic” methodology and produced the “Professional Dreamers” video documentary series. Celebrating: Finalized project results, conducted a closing conference, evaluated the project, and planned for ongoing collaboration.

The concrete outputs and results of our project include three key deliverables and several broader impacts. First, we developed the “Spikey's Clinic for Professional Dreamers” methodology, a comprehensive approach for training youth workers in peer coaching and stress management. This methodology includes practical guidance, peer coaching scenarios, and a collection of stress management tools, all facilitated by Spikey the crochet dragon, who serves as an engaging mascot traveling across Europe to help youth workers share their challenges. Second, we created the “Spikey's Deck of Remedies” card deck, a self-care tool designed specifically for youth workers. This deck provides mindfulness-inducing and stress-relieving activities, beautifully illustrated and based on the Spikey's Clinic methodology, to help youth workers manage stress effectively. “Spikey's Deck of Remedies” is available in printed form and in digital on our web: spikeysclinic.eu. Third, we produced the “Professional Dreamers” educational video documentary where we conducted 25 interviews with youth workers, in which they shared their firsthand experiences dealing with workplace stress and adopting nurturing practices. Videos are available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SpikeysClinic Other significant results of the project include enhanced organizational capacity, with improved peer support and stress management competencies among participating organizations. The project also fostered cross-sectoral cooperation, strengthening our network and ability to collaborate with other organizations in youth work and education, especially on an international level. This cooperation is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (attached in Annexes section), ensuring sustainability and future collaboration. Additionally, the project raised awareness of self-care, resilience, and adaptability among youth workers, along with skills in stress management, space and time management, and human resources management. It also fostered positive attitudes such as openness, empathy, gratitude, appreciation, and honesty within the youth workers' community. Finally, the project’s results were widely disseminated through digital channels and multiplier events, ensuring that its impact reached a broad audience and laid the groundwork for ongoing efforts to nurture self-care and prevent burnout among youth workers.