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Good start for the Families program activities in Slovenia

This summer The Human Safety Net in Slovenia started with its first activities for families with two long week-ends camps that involved about 50 parents and children.

This summer The Human Safety Net in Slovenia started with its first activities for families with two long week-ends camps that involved about 50 parents and children.

This summer, Slovenian NGO ZPM Ljubljana Moste-Polje organized two family camps in Kranjska Gora in the pristine nature of the Triglav National Park, as part of the support of The Human Safety Net. Families relished the pleasant walks in the fresh mountain air, admiring the crystal clear water of Jasna lake, picking wild strawberries, building a bonfire and playing different games while discovering the four elements.

Air, water, fire and earth were a recurring theme of week-ends. Parents and their children learned about these elements  playing games which helped to practice mindfulness and  listening to a musical fairy-tale  to learn to recognize different instruments from all around the world.

A musical workshop with therapeutic instruments such as the gong, Tibetan singing bowls, chimes etc. had a great calming effect on two autistic boys and the infants. The weekend also empowered inclusiveness among participants, as two families were originally coming from Albania and Turkey and language was a barrier at first, but it quickly became an opportunity to learn from different cultures.

Overall, the experience was very positive, with parents opening up to other parents in the group, telling their stories and giving each other helpful advice.

After the summer, regular workshops for parents and kids will continue to take place in three different locations every week, with activities such as fairy-tale reading, drawing, painting and creative play. Parents are enjoying the possibility of spending time in a safe and playful environment as well as the opportunity of meeting other families from their neighborhoods.