Join us at the Anti-burnout solution camp (anti-burnout/activist solution camp), which will take place in Medulin, Croatia, from 13-17 September 2022. The deadline for applications is 12 July.
The Operators of the Active Citizens Fund from Croatia, Romania and Poland (National and Regional Programmes) are holding an international event called Anti-burnout solution camp. The event is aimed at people dealing with counteracting activist and/or professional burnout and representing NGOs active in the support areas of the Active Citizens Fund – National and Regional Programmes and experiencing challenges of activist burnout.
Detailed information about the event can be found below.
Participation in the event is covered entirely by the Active Citizens Fund – Regional and Active Citizens Fund – National Programmes and is free of charge for those attending.
The working language of the event is English (translation will not be provided).
The application form can be found here.
The deadline for applications is the end of the day on 12 July. The results of the recruitment will be announced by 15 July.
PLEASE NOTE: The event is educational and developmental in nature. It is not a therapy group for people experiencing burnout.
For questions about the event:
- if you represent an organisation – the Project Promoter of the Active Citizens Fund – National Programme – please contact Anna Fedas from the Stefan Batory Foundation (afedas@batory.org.pl, +48 791 413 200),
- if you do not represent the Project Promoter of the Active Citizens Fund – National Programme – please contact Ewa Stokłuska from the Education for Democracy Foundation (ewa.stokluska@fed.org.pl, +48 720 801 013)
ANTI-BURNOUT SOLUTION CAMP
Initiators:
The Active Citizens Fund Operators from:
- Croatia
- Romania
- Poland-National Programme
- Poland-Regional
Where and when:
The camp will take place in the period of 13-17 September 2022 in the city of Medulin on the Croatian coast, in the region of Istria.
The agenda includes arrivals of the participants in the afternoon and a communal dinner on Tuesday, September 13th, followed by 3 full days of workshops and other activities, and summing up and early lunch after which departures will take place on Saturday, September 17th, 2022.
All travel arrangements and hotel costs will be taken care of and financially covered directly by the local ACF Operators from each Beneficiary state.
Context:
Shrinking space of civil society and threats to democracy and human rights in Central and Eastern Europe (i.a. war, disinformation, illiberal trends, accompanied by the COVID-19) contribute to numerous burdens and challenges (including abuses) faced by human rights activists and civil society organizations fighting for democracy, rule of law or/and freedom of speech. Activist burnout is a serious risk and problem to be addressed in order to maintain capacities of the aforementioned persons and entities to further engage in change-making activities. That is why organizers of this initiative decided to gather all possible allies of the anti-burnout movements from all around Europe and invite them to an event dedicated to this subject.
Aim:
- To give a safe, welcoming space for stakeholders of the potential anti-burnout movement from various European countries to come together, meet and learn from each other
- To discuss different aspects of the phenomenon of the (activist) burn-out among CSOs’ leaders, activists and anti-burnout practitioners (experts/trainers and consultants) and disseminate tools and skills helpful in reacting to burnout and burnout prevention
- To map know-how, experiences and grassroot initiatives related to the topic of burnout prevention and reaction taking place in Europe
Target groups & participants - encompassing 3 target groups:
- Practitioners of burn-out prevention/management in activist & non-profit work settings
The camp will enable peer exchange among pioneer practitioners of burnout prevention and management, specifically addressing challenges faced by human rights defenders and CSOs operating in organisational, social and political contexts featured by uncertainty and insecurity. Those participants will at the same time act as resource persons to their peers, sharing their toolbox and insights from theory and practice across the region of ACF operations in the EU. - CSOs (NGOs) leaders coping with burn-out management at organisational and personal levels
Those participants will be pre-selected as invitees, based on FO’s insight into their current need and motivation to work on burnout prevention and management challenges at the level of their organisation and /or are themselves currently facing huge risk of burnout at personal and /or organisational level. The camp will enable them to share their experiences, challenges, dilemmas and plan in a safe space, moderated by burnout prevention practitioners. - Donors’ representatives and ACF fund operators
We find the presence of these participants important, so they are involved in the process of the event and get a better understanding of the topic, but also understand better the importance of anti-burnout projects to be encouraged and supported in their respective ecosystems.
The camp will accommodate altogether c.a. 80 participants.
Agenda:
The agenda will be organised in a way to balance out the need for:
- target-group specific peer learning;
- plenary education, discussions,
- one-on-one bonding to enhance mutual learning and support long-term;
- professional and inter-organisational networking;
- rest and pleasure in nature.
The intention is to create an inspiring, dynamic and safe setting for mutual learning and bonding, catalysing the emergence of a particular community of practice of burn-out prevention and resilience building in the scope of human rights protection and civil society in the ACF region and beyond.
Each of the target groups will have a guiding trainer responsible for designing their dedicated tract activities. The final agenda will be partly co-produced on the spot, with participants’ contributions in the role of resource persons, offering ad-on workshops and recreational and fun activities of their choice.
Our guests and trainers:
We are building up a diverse group of trainers specialising in anti-burnout prevention, organisational development and self-development topics. So far, we are happy to confirm participation of the following guests, the list to be extended and finalised by the end of July, 2022:
- Anna Kuliberda (Polish, yet currently based in Germany), https://www.annakuliberda.com/. Coach trainer and facilitator supporting individuals and organisations. Her specialisation is burnout of people who base their work on passion (activists, journalists, creative people) answering the question of how to keep being creative and innovative, and not to lose oneself in it.
- Gabe Ivanov and Noah Kraljević (Croatia), K-zona, Vox Feminae – human rights activists working on transnational Burnout Aid project developing a toolbox for NGOs, LGBTIQ equality and diversity in the workplace and minority stress management.
- Natalia Sarata (Poland). sociologist, feminist, anti-discrimination and herstorical educator, co-founder of the Women’s Space (Przestrzeń Kobiet) Foundation, creator and leader of the “RegenerAction” Foundation (Fundacja RegenerAkcja) implementing initiatives for tired and burned-out activists.
- Iskra Pejić (Croatia), psychologist and Gestalt psychotherapist, with extensive experience in crisis support to women victims of sexual violence, refugee children trauma management and school integration, support to LGBTIQ persons and their families.
- Hanna Hakiel (Poland, yet currently based in Portugal). Psychologist, specializing in work with trauma and intercultural relations. She has vast experience in working with migrants and refugees and human rights activists, mostly in Germany.
Preliminary Schedule:
| 13.09 (Tuesday) | 14.09 (Wednesday) | 15.09 (Thursday) | 16.09 (Friday) | 17.09 (Saturday) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrivals | 8-10 breakfast | 8-10 breakfast | 8-10 breakfast | 8-10 breakfast |
| 8 pm – Welcome dinner | 10-12 – Introductory workshop: burnout risk assessment | 10-12 – activities for 3 tracks | 10-12 – activities for 3 tracks | 8 pm – Welcome dinner |
| 12-2 pm – lunch & break | 12-2 pm – lunch & break | 12-2 pm – lunch & break | 12-2 pm – lunch | |
| 2-4 pm – activities for 3 tracks (CSO leaders, anti-burnout practitioners, donors) | 2-4 pm – activities for 3 tracks | 2-4 pm – activities for 3 tracks | Departures | |
| 4-6 pm – break | 4-6 pm – break | 4-6 pm – break | ||
| 6-8 pm – Highlight: Organisational context of burnout (space, time, people management) – fishbowl discussion | 6-8 pm – Highlight: Community context of burnout (minority stress issues) | 6-8 pm – Highlight: Trauma and burnout | ||
| 8-9 pm – break/body retreat (optional) | 8-9 pm – break/body retreat (optional) | 8-9 pm – break/body retreat (optional) | ||
| 8-10 pm – dinner | 8-10 pm – dinner | 8-10 pm – dinner |
