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Description
The main goal of the project is to create a therapeutic farm and help young people from social risk families and the care system to integrate into society, the education system or the labor market through its activities. Although therapeutic farms have deep traditions in the world, this would be the first such farm in Lithuania adapted to work with various vulnerable groups. The main purpose of a therapeutic farm is to use farming practices to improve the physical and mental health of farm participants, to develop social and work skills, and to provide educational and integrative benefits. These practices have deep, even nineteenth-century, roots in various European countries, such as Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Belgium, and others. Clients on therapeutic farms include children from a variety of vulnerable groups, such as young people not in the education system or the labor market, children falling out of the education system, children and young people with mental disorders (eg depression, anxiety, etc.), and adults addicted to psychoactive substances, the long-term unemployed, adults with burnout syndrome, etc. The project envisages the participation of 28 young people from municipalities of municipalities of Švenčionys, Ignalina, Visaginas, Molėtai, Zarasai and Utena districts from families at social risk and in the care system who are starting to live independently.
The main goal of the project is 50%. young people participating in the program will continue their education in the formal education system or find permanent employment. A total of 86 specialists will be trained in the project on how to work with the therapeutic farm methodology. The project partner will be responsible for transferring its good practice and training of project staff.
Summary of project results
The problem addressed by the project is the disrupted integration of young people from families experiencing social risk and from the care system (child care institutions, guardian (carer) families) into society, the education system and the labor market. The project was designed to reintegrate teenagers and young adults (14-24 years old) who have lived in social risk families or the care system or are leaving a psychiatric hospital and are not working or studying or dropping out of the education system/homeschooled, back into the education system and/or labor market. During the preparation of the application, various data related to the social vulnerability of young people, dropping out of the education system and unemployment were analyzed. In addition, there was an interest in how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of young people. All the analyzed data indicated that many young people are in an extremely vulnerable situation and they need urgent, consistent, long-term psychosocial help based on clear methodologies. Therefore, it was chosen to implement the first Therapeutic Farming initiative in Lithuania and to invite young people to participate in it.
During the implementation of the project, the aforementioned target group of young people had the opportunity to participate in the Therapeutic Farm program for 2 to 10 months. During the program, they were invited to come to the farm one day a week and engage in structured farm activities there all day. The activities were constructed based on the principles of environmental/milieu therapy, were related to being in nature, group communication and meaningful work. During their stay on the farm, the young people had the opportunity to try themselves in many different areas, such as animal care, crop production, forestry, horticulture, landscaping, cooking, carpentry, etc. In addition, young people had the opportunity to receive consistent counseling from a psychologist or career counselor at the farm. By getting to know themselves better and discovering their strengths and interests, young people began to think and plan about their return to the education system, planning new studies or finding a job. Of the 31 young people who completed this program, 17 returned to the education system or the labor market - the rest shared important discoveries about themselves and plan to implement them in the future. Finally, all participants who completed the program spoke about the project''s improved self-awareness, the creation of relationships with other participants, less mental health challenges, etc.
In implementation of the project, there were also 5 training sessions ,,Helping young people facing psychosocial problems using therapeutic farming methods" organized aimed to strengthening the capacity of professionals to recognize and treat children and youth experiencing bullying and/or psychosocial problems - there were 115 specialists trained (planned 86).
The results of the project consist of 3 elements
-the outcome related to main target group. 31 young people who completed this program, 17 returned to the education system or the labor market- the rest shared important discoveries about themselves and plan to implement them in the future. Finally, all participants who completed the program spoke about the project''s improved self-awareness, the creation of relationships with other participants, less mental health challenges, etc.
-the outcome related to impact for specialists involved. There were 115 specialists trained aimed to strengthening the capacity of professionals to recognize and treat children and youth experiencing bullying and/or psychosocial problems.
-the outcome related to indirect project target group - young persons''s social environment. During the project the continues work was organized with no less than 116 people from the environment of participants of the program among which: parents, social employees, sisters, brothers, grandparents, employees of educational institutions, friends, representatives of the employment board, employers, employees of crisis pregnancy centers, employees of care institutions, psychologists.
Summary of bilateral results
In this project, the partnership with Hestegarden Therapeutic School in the Kingdom of Norway was extremely important. Correspondence and discussions were held with the partners regarding the activities of the Therapeutic School, their duration, content, etc. After the start of the activities in Lithuania, there was an opportunity to visit the farm itself in the Kingdom of Norway and compare how the activities are planned there, what physical and human resources are needed. The partners constantly followed our activities and in case of need or opportunity, they were contacted, consulted, asked for advice/recommendations. The partners made a significant contribution to the planning of the animals and their care at the farm. The biggest contribution of the partners is that they helped to create a working system in which young people can rehabilitate psychologically andreturn to the labor market or the education system. After the project, communication with partners takes place through informal means (FB messenger), project invitations are followed and further is expected in the future to cooperate by expanding the activities of therapeutic marketing in Lithuania.