Welcome to the project Hapiness of nature!! People spend too much time with technology, working and without time for themselves, occasionally forgetting about the real world, and they are increasingly distancing themselves from the natural environment. The goal of this project was to connect again with nature.

During the period 07-15/06/2021 Pozitiva Samobor welcomed twenty young people from Romania, Portugal and Greece for developing a project about spending quality time in the nature and be respectful with it. The sending organizations in charge are; EuroActive, Liláz and EKO Greece – thank you for your support.

At the begginig the activities are focused in create ties and connect the participants; we worked in getting to know each other through a walk in the woods, and after, we had a funny blind picnic and a rope game – where our confidence increased working in team. Also, we learnt more about Erasmus+ projects. The first contact with the participants was great, but during the project it improved every minute.

We started the second day with a conscientious walking. The name of this activity is “Shinrin Yoku” or “Bath Forest”, it is a sensory experience in which the senses are awaken and we connect with the nature, a kind of meditation to increase physical and mental health. It was amazing how the participants involved in the activity and shared the feelings and the previous experiences, we grew up and relax together! The last activity was developped in the forest, the participants made three types of shelters, each team present themselves and some of them tried it also, but they preferred our accommodation to spend the night. The day was completed with a meteorology session developed by the Romanian team.

The basics of hiking were explained by Marin, croatian volunteer and expert in hiking. He solved a lot of doubts and taught all important issues for hiking, which we put into practice the next day. Topics such as safety, first aid kits, dangers, clothes, backpack… Japetić and Oštrc are the peak that we reached, we fought against the rain. I am very grateful to have shared this hiking experience, it is the best moment to connect with people in the middle of the forest, stopping our lives and flowing, sharing silence, laughs and deep conversations. The second session of hiking was in Veliki Lovnik with citizens, we ate amazing barbacue in Sveti Bernard and spent quality time singing and playing the guitar there together, young people from Somobor and surroundings joined us. We create a special athmosphere in a magic place.

In the orientation game we put in practice the compass use and the knowledge learnt, at least two of the teams… the last team found the path of light.

The next topic was nature and society to understand how the human has used the natural resources to grow up as society. Greek team make some dynamic activities for explain this. Also the factory about Licitarska Sirca opened us the door for teaching us how to made this craft Samobor gift, the Licitarska Sirca. They invited us to try the honey cookies, Medenjaci, that they also produce. We tried a traditional drink Gvirc and desert Kremsnita in the croatian athmosphere of the main square. During this day we get into the croatian culture.

Portuguese team prepared some games to connect technology and nature, we worked in teams and we conclude that for survive in extreme situations we don´t need the technology but when the situation change to be an emergency situation nowadays is the best tool to survive.

During the Intercultural evening all teams gave us the opportunity to taste and enjoy the food and the typical music outdoors, we learnt some traditional dances and sang in the karaoke and in the firepit with the guitar creating a unique atmosphere and connecting each other.

This project was very special. Finally I want to thank ALL participants the proactivity and the dynamic atittude because without you this it would not have been possible. Each day passed we felt like a little family, with our strengths and weaknesses but respecting each other. Sharing our concerns and making the house and the environment around us had a special meaning. In my case, the last night was very special for a lot of reasons. We flowed, we sang and laughed until the fire in the bonfire was extinguished and the sun appeared to announce a new day, feeling free, and knowing that the project was finished better that we could imagine. Thanks guys

Video created by the participants