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The BRIDGES project (Bringing Regenerative and Integral Development through young Generation of Educators for Sustainability) is a learning initiative of 10 partners from 10 European countries led by Swedish NGO Relearn. BRIDGES targets youth workers from broad variety of educational initiatives: from intentional communities to formal institutions. 

BRIDGES aims to create transformative learning experiences for youth workers, with the focus on empowering youth for taking an active and responsible role in their own life and in the society, and on building competencies which the youth will need in a rapidly transforming world. The core of the project is bridging different dimensions of our lives and socio-economic system into an integral educational program, equipping youth with a holistic approach to the challenges which people face individually and collectively. BRIDGES questions norms and stereotypes of the accepted reality, and encourages a worldview beyond borders between sectors and countries and empowers young people to become active agents in their life, the society and in the global issues. 

The project's international Learning Journeys, Youth Learning Camp and national trainings, as well as the produced digital toolkit will be based on experiential methods, where a learner becomes a central part of the process and learns through a personal experience. It allows working with young people from very different backgrounds, making the education inclusive and joyful and allowing for the integration of disadvantaged groups, and therefore improving the quality and scope of the youth work. .  

Content
BRIDGES connects selected materials developed over the last decade by f a number of European projects within grass-root initiatives in the field of education and leadership for sustainable. Bridging different dimensions of sustainability – social, ecological and economic regeneration and inner resilience – into an integral educational program specifically in the current European and global contexts, Each of the four dimensions (modules) is addressed on three levels: I, We and World, which reflect individual, collective (community, group, organisation) and global levels of cognition, decision making and actions.
The underlying goal is to unfold the potential of young people for accelerating the transition to a more socially, ecologically and economically sustainable future. The Integral learning fosters interdisciplinary thinking embodied in cross-sectoral actions. ​​
Worldview module cultivates a holistic, ecological and socially inclusive worldview in youth and develops inner strengths and resilience on individual level, as well as in communities and work. Values, personal development, ability to sustain shocks and changing conditions, leadership skills, deep ecology, behaviour change, active and responsible citizenship are the topics to be explored within Worldview dimension.
I – Exploring ways an individual grows as an individual, while remaining grounded using mindfulness and other approaches focusing on one's "inner space". Personal perception, inclusive viewpoint, openness and flexibility as well as the ability to stand for one's values are in the focus.
We – Exploring ways a person and a group creatively works with diversity, gender issues and shared values.
World – Exploring what transformation in the mindset and values is needed for global transition to regenerative culture, and how that transformation can take place in the young generation. 

Worldview Learning Journey will be hosted in Denmark, in Ananda Gaorii community. 
Social module introduces approaches to help youth to nurture stronger and more resilient communities, locally and globally. Content will include social inclusion, intercultural integration, community-building, equality and equity, conflict resolution, collective decision making and non-violent communication, gender equality, political activism, interaction with decision makers.
I – Exploring ways an individual stays buoyant working in diverse physical and virtual communities, is capable to engage in social processes and take an equal role in a group.
We – Encourage cooperation, collective work, living and activism, bringing focus to the importance of NVC, communication skills, facilitation, shared values, conflict resolution and decision-making.
World – Awareness of and capacity in building bridges to policy makers, grass-root movements and vulnerable communities across Europe and internationally.

Social Learning Journey will be hosted in Ireland, in Clughjordan Ecovillage.
Economic module develops an understanding of new opportunities for jobs and livelihoods: Social entrepreneurship, the collaborative economy, green economy, circular economy, local economy etc,
I – Exploring ways a young individual can find or start up initiatives and work with others and make a living in a rapidly changing world, and which skills and competences are needed.
We – Introducing new economic models and ways to increase jobs and livelihood potential for young people. Social entrepreneurship, new emerging economic models for collaborative livelihood.
World – Awareness of the global economic system and transformative process happening bottom-up through local and international initiatives around the world.

Economic Learning Journey will be hosted in the Netherlands,
​in the Centre of Social Entrepreneurship.  
Ecological module explores the environmental base of human civilisation and intrinsic values of nature. Permaculture, ecosystems services, planetary boundaries, nutrient cycles, natural resources, organic food cultivation, renewable energy, health, green rehabilitation, human-nature connection, and interconnectedness within the ecosystem.
I – Exploring ways an individual reconnect with and relate to nature 
We – Introducing tools and methodologies for collaborative regeneration of ecosystems and integration of cities and communities with nature to ensure ecological sustainability.
World – Tools to help youth workers facilitate understanding of responses to global problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, nutrients depletion, ocean acidification, other planetary boundaries.

Ecological Learning Journey will be hosted in Slovenia, in Sustainability Park Istra. 

Partners

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BRIDGES has been submitted to the European Commission funding program Erasmus+,
the result is expected to be received in Spring 2017.
For any information email to info@suderbyn.se.