Building bridges instead of walls

Do you sometimes feel helpless in the face of your students’ “challenging” behaviors?
Or perhaps you would like the relationships in your classroom to be based on respect and cooperation?

This workshop will show you how to bring more empathy, calm, and understanding into everyday school life.

Who is it for?

• teachers
• class tutors
• school counselors
• anyone working with young people

What will you gain?

• tools for dealing with “difficult” situations in the classroom
• strategies to protect your own boundaries while maintaining relationships
• the language of empathy to support conflict resolution
• a greater sense of calm, confidence, and satisfaction in your work
• an atmosphere of trust and cooperation in your school

The workshop is highly practical – we work with real-life school situations through exercises, role plays, reflection, and exchange of experience.

All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Format

One-day workshop (8 hours, 10:00–18:00)
Includes a lunch break (1 hour) and two coffee breaks (15 minutes each).

Venue: ul. Okrzei 6/49, 1st floor, Praga Północ, Warsaw

Topics covered during the workshop

• Introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC) and the work of Marshall B. Rosenberg
• Core principles of NVC
• Common communication blocks in relationships with youth and adults
• Criticism and difficult messages – 4 listening perspectives
• Self-empathy – caring for emotional and physical wellbeing as a teacher
• Interpersonal neurobiology – how emotional safety and trust affect the nervous system
• The 4-step NVC model (observation, feeling, need, request)
• Honest self-expression and protecting personal boundaries
• Listening to others with empathy
• Receiving a “no”
• Dialogue as a pathway to connection

About NVC

Nonviolent Communication, developed by Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, is an approach to communication aimed at building deep, empathic human relationships.

It is based on the idea that all our actions stem from attempts to meet specific needs – conscious or unconscious – such as safety, acceptance, or belonging. By becoming aware of our own needs and those of others, we can better understand ourselves and our environment, and increase the chances of being heard and considered, even in difficult or conflictual situations.

Practicing NVC makes conflicts easier to resolve, deepens relationships, and fosters communication based on respect, understanding, and authentic connection.

For teachers, NVC supports healthy boundary setting, mutual respect, and building strong relationships through dialogue.

More about NVC: www.cnvc.org

Trainers

Paulina Orbitowska-Fernandez – certified NVC and eduScrum trainer, coach, academic teacher and English language teacher, mediator, and Resonant Healing practitioner. She has international experience in Mexico (universities and IB schools) where she also served as a school director. Since 2017 she has been sharing her knowledge in the fields of education, business, and healthcare. Currently affiliated with Collegium Civitas.

Agnieszka Gwadera – creator of the COBONA approach, movement instructor, and dancer. She designs original classes that combine movement, improvisation, and mindfulness with relational awareness. She brings together NVC, embodied work with emotions, and improvisation to create spaces of authentic encounter. Participant of Erasmus+ international trainings in empathic communication and embodied emotional work.

Build relationships based on trust, cooperation, and respect.
Join the workshop and discover how NVC can transform your classroom!

Workshops will be held in Polish Language

More about the workshop: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PEFKYj9Ag0kN7MaJWDsGYdORTCHOzG0j/view?usp=share_link
Registration form: https://forms.gle/QzcEPsusJg8XVKHK7

Supporting Youth Mental Health in Practice

With the support of the European Union, we can contribute to a better understanding of the challenges young people face and develop tools to help youth workers and teachers respond to these needs. Increasingly, young people struggle with anxiety, depression, and stress related to social pressure, job uncertainty, or the influence of social media, making youth mental health an area that requires special attention.

Our project aims to strengthen the competencies of youth workers in creating safe, empathetic learning environments, promoting supportive communication, and leading discussions and activities on mental health. As part of the project, we will develop:

• Interactive tools for youth workers

• Educational materials on mental health

• A collaboration platform for organizations

• Training programs and experience-sharing opportunities.

All of these resources are designed to help educators create safe and inclusive environments, enhance young people’s resilience, and reduce the stigma around mental health.

The project is funded by the European Union under Small Scale Partnerships, an Erasmus+ initiative supporting short-term collaborative projects between youth organizations across Europe. This funding enables the creation of collaboration networks, the exchange of good practices, and the development of resources in youth education. Small Scale Partnerships allows organizations to implement innovative, flexible activities tailored to local needs, enhancing their ability to respond to challenges related to young people’s emotional wellbeing.

Learn more about Erasmus+: ersasmusplus.org.pl

Project partners:

• Associazione Agrado APS https://www.agrado.org/
• Asociación Promesas https://www.promesas.eu/

Do you want to easily bring empathy into your organization, school, or group? Our Empathy Tool Kit is ready to use – designed to support the development of emotional skills and foster positive, supportive relationships.

The Tool Kit was created as part of the Building Bridges project, funded by the European Union, and combines knowledge from three key areas:

• NVC (Nonviolent Communication) – empathy as a deep understanding of others’ needs and feelings
• Embodiment – awareness of the body and emotions, and the ability to read signals from your own body and others’
• Neuroscience – brain mechanisms responsible for empathy and building connections

What’s inside the Tool Kit?

• A theoretical introduction to help you better understand empathy
• Group and individual exercises to develop empathic listening and responsive skills
• Practical guidance on how to apply empathy in everyday situations and in teamwork

With this Tool Kit, you can:

• Better understand your own emotions and the needs of others
• Strengthen communication and collaboration within your team
• Create an open and supportive environment in your group

Download the Empathy Tool Kit today and start making a difference in your community!

We are excited to announce that the Mudita Foundation is launching an international project, Embodied Emotional Education, supported by the Erasmus+ program. This unique initiative aims to develop the competencies of our team in working with emotions, the body, and trauma—areas that are increasingly present in education and personal development work.

As part of the project, our educators will participate in specialized trainings organized by partners from Italy, Spain, Slovenia, and Germany. This international collaboration will provide us with knowledge and practical tools to more effectively support individuals facing emotional, social, or professional crises.

The project addresses the needs of people in difficult life situations who are dealing with emotional, social, or professional challenges. It is also aimed at individuals with diverse experiences and identities, who often have limited access to appropriate support. We believe that embodied emotional education, an approach that recognizes the connection between emotions and the body, can significantly improve participants’ mental wellbeing and quality of life.

This is another step in the development of the Mudita Foundation as an organization that combines non-formal education with a deep understanding of human emotions and needs. We are grateful to the Erasmus+ program for making this important project possible!

We are happy to announce that our new publication with practical exercises for conflict resolution is now available!
This resource is designed for group facilitators, educators, and anyone interested in developing their skills in dialogue and building mutual understanding in challenging situations.
Inside, you’ll find concrete exercises, inspiration, and tried-and-tested methods to support a deeper understanding of yourself and others – even when tensions and differences arise.

Download: Roots of Peace – booklet.pdf

This month, we are hosting another training focused on deepening empathy in youth work.

The “Building Bridges” training is designed for 24 participants from 8 European countries, and aims to strengthen skills in building relationships, mutual understanding, and community in diverse youth settings.

The training is part of the Erasmus+ programme and is co-funded by the European Union.

We’re excited to announce that our Foundation is about to launch its first training co-funded by the European Union. The Roots of Peace project will bring together 24 youth workers from 6 NGOs who will develop their skills in conflict transformation through the lens of Nonviolent Communication (NVC).

It will be an intensive time of learning, sharing, and building bridges — both personally and socially. After the training, participants will pass on their knowledge through free local and online initiatives.

The project will conclude with an open webinar summarizing key tools and insights on working with conflict.

📎 More about the project

The Building Bridges project invites youth workers and changemakers to embark on an international journey that fosters empathy, growth, and genuine human connection. In a world where technology often replaces face-to-face interaction, we are returning to what truly builds bridges — empathy and authentic presence.

This training will offer space for learning, exchange, and connection. Participants will develop their empathetic and interpersonal skills using Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), and embodiment practices.

The project aims to create a network of individuals and organizations committed to nurturing a culture of empathy. After the training, participants will implement free local and online initiatives, and the project will close with a public webinar open to all.

📎 More about the project

In June, our team will take part in an international training in Latvia, organized by KALM International Trainings, as part of the INTO LOVE project. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with partner organizations across Europe to help build a more empathetic and conscious world.

The main goal of the project is to support youth workers in transforming automatic, emotionally reactive behaviors into calm, empathetic, and conscious responses. During the training, participants will strengthen their emotional resilience, practice mindfulness, and deepen their understanding of Nonviolent Communication (NVC).

INTO LOVE is not just about tools — it’s about personal growth, reflection, and connection, all essential elements in meaningful youth work.

📎 More about the project