Starting by the beginning... seeding our project!

Each of the partners contributes with their knowledge and specific background. CJD, as an expert organization providing training for people with learning disabilities, is the best option to design and write the gardening and horticulture curriculum to be taught. Mental Health Center “Prof. N. Shipkovenski” is in charge of designing the innovative methodology based on sociodrama approach that complements the gardening content with development of social skills. INTRAS and OZARA d.o.o., as organizations that offer workshops and training to mentally ill people, are in charge of testing and improving the overall course. Preparative activities prior to the training course are the edition of a teaching manual, a textbook for learners, a teaching DVD and the creation and maintenance of an informative-teaching website that will be also a practical informative tool.

Training our gardeners to grow HORGANIC trainees

Once all the preliminary teaching materials are prepared, an intensive training of the trainers will be held in Germany, run by CJD (Germany) and Mental Health Center “Prof. N. Shipkovenski” (Bulgaria), experts on the curriculum and developed methodology, respectively. Trainers from Spain, Germany and Slovenia will be intensively trained, both in the gardening curriculum developed and in the sociodrama approach and some exercises.

Gardening around Europe: Pilot experience in three different countries

Once all the preliminary teaching materials are prepared, an intensive training of the trainers is held in Germany, run by CJD (Germany) and Mental Health Center “Prof. N. Shipkovenski” (Bulgaria), experts on the curriculum and developed methodology, respectively. Trainers from Spain, Germany and Slovenia will be intensively trained, both in the gardening curriculum developed and in the sociodrama approach and some exercises. 

Spreading our fruits

Dissemination is thought in HORGANIC as a basic pillar to fight against the social stigma that usually accompanies the mental illness. A detailed communication campaign walks together with the project activities. It is important to let Europe know about what are we doing and thus allow other organizations to repeat this training course not only with this specific target group but also with other groups subjected to social exclusion. We want HORGANIC community to take root, grow and reproduce.

Newsletters will be produced each four months (see “news” section), as well as promotional posters and flyers to inform about the project, events and face-to-face meetings to explain specialized and general audience about the results of this innovative experience. You can find updated information and all these promotional materials in this website. Moreover, seminars will be organised in each partners’ countries at the end of the pilot experiences to present all final products and results of HORGANIC. In order to reach the academy community, a scientific article will be produced analysing the outcomes and conclusions obtained during these three working years.