From 13 to 19 September, Europamente took part as a partner in the Erasmus+ training course Resilience in Activism, coordinated by Symbiotic Roots and hosted in the mountain village of Ribes de Freser, Spain.
The training brought together 12 participants from Italy, Greece, Romania, Türkiye, France and Spain, all involved in youth work, community action and social change initiatives. Despite coming from different backgrounds and contexts, participants shared a common challenge: how to continue working for positive change without becoming overwhelmed by the social and environmental crises around us.
What followed was not a conventional training course.
Over the course of a week, participants explored The Work That Reconnects, a methodology developed by Joanna Macy that invites people to reconnect with themselves, with others and with the wider living world. Rather than focusing solely on skills and tools, the training created space for reflection, dialogue and collective learning.
The journey began with gratitude. Through walks in nature, creative exercises and shared conversations, participants reflected on the people, places and experiences that sustain them. From there, the group moved into a more challenging phase: acknowledging the grief, frustration, fear and fatigue that often accompany activism and community work.
Instead of treating these feelings as obstacles, participants were encouraged to recognise them as natural responses to the challenges of the world we live in. Sharing them collectively helped turn vulnerability into connection and mutual support.
As the week progressed, attention shifted towards imagination and action. Through Dragon Dreaming, Forum Theatre, body-based activities and outdoor learning experiences, participants explored how individual wellbeing and collective transformation are deeply connected. Discussions on power, interdependence and ecological awareness helped frame activism not as an individual effort, but as a shared responsibility rooted in relationships and community.
One particularly powerful takeaway was the idea that resilience is not simply about endurance. Sustainable activism is not about working harder or pushing through exhaustion. It is about creating conditions that allow people to keep contributing over time: supportive communities, meaningful relationships, space for reflection and practices of care for both ourselves and others.
The final days focused on translating these insights into concrete action. Participants reflected on how to bring what they had learned back to their organisations, local communities and youth projects. Small actions, local initiatives and everyday choices were recognised as important building blocks for broader social change.
The training ended where it had begun: in a circle. But this time, it was a circle of people connected by shared experiences, new friendships and a renewed sense of purpose.
For Europamente, participating in Resilience in Activism was also an opportunity to reflect on an increasingly important question for the youth sector: how can we support young people, volunteers and changemakers in remaining engaged over the long term while safeguarding their wellbeing?
As organisations working with young people across Europe continue to respond to complex social and environmental challenges, resilience, community care and meaningful participation are becoming just as important as technical skills and project management.
We return home with new ideas, stronger partnerships and valuable tools to integrate into our future work.
A sincere thank you to Symbiotic Roots, the facilitators, partner organisations and all participants who made this experience possible.
Because, as Joanna Macy reminds us:
“The future is not a place we are going to. It is a place we are creating.” 🌱
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