Training in Latvia

Creative Arts as Therapy Tools in Youth Work

Riga, Latvia | 3–7 September 2024

The second international training course of the CREATIYOK project – Creative Arts as Therapy Tools in Youth Work took place from September 3rd to 7th, 2024, in Riga, Latvia. The project, funded under Erasmus+ KA2 – Small-Scale Partnerships in Youth, aimed to empower youth workers with creative, therapeutic tools that can be used to support young people in their local communities.

This training followed the first session in Cyprus and brought together youth workers from Cyprus, Poland, and Latvia, focusing on phototherapy, music therapy, mindfulness, and movement-based methods as innovative non-formal education approaches.

Infopack of the training: 

🔍 What This Page Covers

This page serves as an overview of the entire Latvian training course, highlighting the structure, activities, and outcomes of the five-day experience.

👉 Additionally, we have created two dedicated subpages:

• https://creatiyok.webnode.page/hosting-venue2/ – A detailed presentation of Young Folks LV, the creative youth center that hosted the training.

• https://creatiyok.webnode.page/implementation2/ – A comprehensive report on how the Latvian training was conducted, including methodologies, activity breakdowns, visual documentation, and links to the materials used with a lot of photos

🎨 Key Themes & Goals

The training was built on the idea that creative expression is a pathway to healing, inclusion, and empowerment. The sessions focused on

• Photography as therapy: Using visual storytelling and symbolism to explore self-identity, emotions, and relationships.

• Music therapy: Experimenting with rhythm, leadership, and emotional dialogue through sound and traditional instruments.

• Mindfulness and embodiment: Learning to connect with oneself and others through movement, silence, mirroring, and play.

Each day followed a progressive structure, beginning with light creative engagement and culminating in deeper reflection, personal expression, and group trust-building.

📸 Activities & Cultural Highlights

The program combined indoor and outdoor experiences, workshops, and cultural visits, including:

• PhotoWalks around Riga and Jūrmala, where participants captured images that represented their inner world and identity.

• Workshops on self-projection through photography, self-portraits, family dynamics, and 10-year future reflections.

• Visits to the Museum of Illusions and the Pharmacy Museum are used as metaphors for personal growth and perception.

• Music and body movement therapy exercises involving Latvian instruments, mirroring games, rhythm circles, and even gibberish-based emotional communication.

• Creative flower exchange games, promoting trust, choice, and emotional awareness.

• A final video creation workshop and Youthpass ceremony, summarizing the collective experience.

🌱 Follow-Up: Local Activities in 3 Countries

The training was not an isolated event. Each partner organization—ACPELIA (Cyprus), OPEN SOUL (Poland), and Young Folks LV (Latvia)—returned home to apply the methods learned during the training in their local contexts.

Between September and November 2024:

• Each national team adapted and implemented selected activities with their local youth.

• The sessions were tailored to local needs and offered young people space for expression, growth, and inclusion.

• These activities were documented and are featured on the Implementation Page with photos, testimonials, and reflections.

📘 All Resources Are Now Available

You can now access:

• The final InfoPack for the Latvia training includes the schedule, practical details, and educational aims.

• A complete gallery of photos from each day of the training in the implementation page

• The final group video was created by the participants.

👉 All of these are available in the Implementation Page and Download Section of the site.

🙌 Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to:

• Young Folks LV, our warm and inspiring hosts in Riga.

• All participants from Cyprus, Poland, and Latvia for their openness, creativity, and energy.

• The facilitators, therapists, and trainers who brought these methods to life.

• Erasmus+ for making international collaboration and knowledge-sharing possible.

Implementation of the project: https://creatiyok.webnode.page/implementation2/

Hosting Venue of the Training: https://creatiyok.webnode.page/hosting-venue2/

Photo Gallery:  https://creatiyok.webnode.page/photo-gallery/ 

Evaluation from participants of the training: https://creatiyok.webnode.page/evaluation2/