EMOTIONAL EDUCATION . 2025 . FRANCE
“Emotional Education” was a 12-day Erasmus+ training course (17–28 November 2025, Milhac, France) exploring how emotions shape our bodies, our inner worlds, and our collective imagination.
Rather than focusing on how to “manage” emotions or trying to “fix” them as if they were problems or diseases, the intention was different: to recognise, name, and stay with what emerges, while remaining in dialogue with the world around us.
We explored this through a combination of artistic practices, mainly plastic arts with a focus on visual expression such as drawing, painting, collage, and sewing, together with collective reflection and body-based activities, especially dance and theatre preparation. All of this took place within a non-formal education framework, creating a space where head, heart, and hands could work together.
At the beginning, many of us struggled. We cannot just acknowledge there is an emotion manifesting in us or in another, we need to “solve” it! “Are you sad? Let me cheer you up!” kind of attitude. And by observing this dynamic we finally saw that the need to “solve” the emotion another person may be experiencing, speaks more about ourself and the fact we are in discomfort seeing someone else suffering and need to feel useful takes us far from simply being present and testify that emotion is in the room. We started from this in a harsh way, with some resistance because we are taught like this. And then slowly, step by step, we learned how to approach emotions without rushing to act on them. We practiced staying present, giving them names, describing their textures, locating them in the body, and creating safe, artsy and participative spaces where others could do the same.
Was one of a kind path! And along the way, we discovered how emotional education can nurture empathy, acceptance, and authentic communication, first within ourselves, and subsequently in our work with youth.
IN A NUTSHELL
▶ Dates : 17-28 November 2025
▶ Location : Milhac (46300), France
▶ Who : 24 artivists passionate about emotional well-being and creative learning.
▶ Where from : France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Slovenia.
OUR HOME
We will be staying in the Lot region (46) of France, in the village of Milhac. It is in a beautiful, natural area close to the medieval city of Gourdon, where is the train station.
Here is the link to our lovely venue: https://www.lesmaurelles.com
METHODOLOGY
The training will combine moments of artistic exploration, collective reflection, and non-formal education, offering a space to connect head, heart, and hands. In practice we will bring together movement, theatre, visual facilitation, cooperative games, and guided reflection to connect body, mind, and emotions. Together, we will explore how emotional education can support the development of empathy, resilience, and authentic communication in oneself first, and in youth work and creative practice then.
More than a workshop, Emotional Education will be a shared journey — a laboratory of human connection, where curiosity, play, and vulnerability become our teachers.
MEET THE TEAM
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Inese Minšī
COORDINATOR
A craftivist and non-formal education trainer passionate about creative and embodied learning. Since 2008, she has designed innovative youth trainings blending body movement, creative writing and reflective practices to develop soft skills and self-awareness. Holding a Master’s degree in Media and Communication, she also researches how storytelling and media shape perceptions of identity and gender.
As project coordinator, she ensures the flow, coherence and grounding of the group process, supporting both logistics and learning.
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Julia Baggiani
FACILITATOR
A social educator and art facilitator specialised in using dance, theatre and creativity as tools for emotional and social development. For over a decade, she has worked with diverse communities, from autistic youth to women survivors of domestic violence, designing projects that merge art, empathy and empowerment.
Julia’s facilitation style is embodied, playful and deeply human. She leads participants through experiential activities that connect the body, movement and emotions, inviting authenticity and self-expression.
WEB SITE -
Ilaria Fresa
FACILITATOR
A visual facilitator and social researcher dedicated to using visual language to support learning and collaboration. With a background in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Sociology of Migrations, she has led research and projects on empowerment, gender and social inclusion across Europe.
Her work focuses on helping people and groups explore their full potential through creativity, dialogue and participatory methods.Within this training, she guides the group through visual tools, evaluation processes and collective sense-making.
This project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. If you would like to find out more about the programme, please visit European Commission’s webpage here.
