Spotlight. Hero’s Journey for Building Resilience STE(A)M CAMP

Publicat în 24. 05. 2023 de Nicoleta-Livia Barbu
Categorie: cultură – societate – educaţie

In an effort to empower students from disadvantaged backgrounds and support relocated migrant students from Ukraine, the Eduvital- Educatia este vitala NGO recently organized the STE(A)M Camp "Hero's Journey for Building Resilience." Held from 19th to 21st May, the camp aimed to enhance the participants' resilience through engaging STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) activities. With the dedicated involvement from Eduvital NGO staff and invited experts, the camp provided an enriching experience for 29 primary school students and 9 teachers, offering them valuable tools for overcoming difficult times.

Setting the Stage
The camp brought together two groups of students facing different challenges. The first group is composed of students with different socio-economic backgrounds, including Roma students, who are dealing with difficult situations and family problems that affect their learning. The second group consists of students from Ukraine who had to leave their homes and families and were relocated to the Oltenia region. These students are adjusting to a new life and face unique struggles like adapting to a new culture and language. It was not an ordinary group, but a diverse mix of students with different needs and experiences, coming together in this camp to find support, empathy and understanding.
At the outset of the camp, students from Ukraine (from the cities of Kherson, Odessa, Izmail, Mykolaiv, Melitopol, Zaporozhye), relocated in Valcea county, Romania and students from the South-West, Oltenia region from Romania found themselves in a situation where they felt distant and shy. The language barrier further compounded their challenges, making it difficult for them to interact and connect with one another. At the first stage, learning and communicating by playing was essential and became the universal language of all students who attended the STE(A)M CAMP. By incorporating emotional intelligence, the camp’s activities sought to provide the students with the necessary tools to understand and manage their own emotions, empathize with others and create a safe space for friendship and collaboration. This approach resulted in breaking down the initial barriers, fostering a sense of belonging among the participants and facilitating a context for communicating with each other in 3 languages: Romanian, Ukrainian and English.

Promoting Resilience through STE(A)M and SEL
The vision of our initiative was to build capacity for integrating students from different socio-economic, cultural and language backgrounds and highlight the importance of resilience in overcoming life's challenges. With the intention of creating a supportive and collaborative environment, Eduvital NGO combined STE(A)M education with SEL activities to foster resilience among the participants. By integrating scientific exploration with emotional well-being, the camp created a holistic learning environment that nurtured both teachers’ and students' minds and hearts.

Expert Guidance and Mentorship
To ensure a comprehensive and impactful experience, Eduvital NGO enlisted the support of STEM and SEL experts. These professionals shared their knowledge and expertise with the students, providing mentorship and guidance throughout the camp. The SEL expert helped the students open up about their problems, fears and concerns and provided guidance and mentorship throughout the camp, whenever they needed. The STEM expert engaged both teachers and students into hands-on activities and collaborative challenges, thus creating a dynamic learning environment that captivated the participants. The activities encouraged active participation, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and igniting a passion for STEM subjects. The students and teachers worked together, discovering innovative solutions, and expanding their understanding of scientific concepts of astronomy.

Engaging Activities
The STEM Camp featured a diverse range of activities designed to engage and inspire the students. From socialization games to hands-on experiments, every aspect of the camp was carefully crafted to encourage teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving and soft skills. The students had the opportunity to participate in outdoor informal activities, such as nature exploration and team-building exercises, further enhancing their adaptability and collaboration.

1. Socialization Games: The camp started with interactive socialization games that encouraged collaboration, teamwork, and communication among the students. By participating in these activities, students had the opportunity to build connections, develop social skills, and form supportive relationships with their peers and teachers.

2. Hands-on Experiments: Engaging in hands-on experiments allowed students to apply scientific principles and develop critical thinking skills. By conducting experiments, such as building simple machines or exploring chemical reactions, the students gained a deeper understanding of STEM concepts while simultaneously building their resilience through trial and error.

3. Outdoor Informal Activities: The camp took advantage of outdoor spaces to conduct informal activities that encouraged students to explore nature, engage in physical activities, and embrace experiential learning. These activities, such as nature walks, team-building exercises, and group challenges, fostered resilience by pushing students out of their comfort zones and encouraging them to overcome obstacles together.

4. Solar Spots Observation and Night Observations: The camp incorporated unique opportunities for students to observe the wonders of the universe. Through solar spot observations, students learned about the sun and its impact on Earth, fostering curiosity and scientific inquiry. Night observations of celestial objects allowed them to explore the mysteries of the night sky, igniting a sense of wonder and inspiring them to delve deeper into the realms of astronomy and space exploration.

Impact and Significance
The Hero's Journey for Building Resilience STE(A)M Camp held by Eduvital NGO had a positive and meaningful impact on the participating students and teachers.
The once distant and shy students gradually began to open up, finding common ground through their shared experiences and interests. The language barrier, initially an obstacle, became an opportunity for them to explore alternative means of communication, relying on non-verbal cues, gestures, and the universal language of empathy. As the days progressed, genuine friendships began to form among the students.

By incorporating emotional intelligence into the STEAM activities, the organizers facilitated interaction, collaboration, and resilience-building among the participants. Through overcoming initial barriers, these students demonstrated that regardless of their backgrounds, they possess the power to connect, inspire, and learn from one another.

The initiative provided an invaluable experience for students with low opportunities, migrants from Ukraine, and minority students such as Roma students to come together and embark on a journey for change.

We do hope THE CHANGE started with the “Hero’s Journey for Building Resilience” STE(A)M CAMP.

Nicoleta Livia Barbu, Elena Corina Rogoveanu, Asociatia Eduvital- Educatia este vitala

Cosmin Sorin Miclos, Ucenicul Astronom

Mihail Cristian Pîrlog, Mental Health Association of Southern Eastern Europe

Ministerul Educaţiei

Nicoleta-Livia Barbu

Spotlight. Hero’s Journey for Building Resilience STE(A)M CAMP

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