Our Experience in LITHUANIA

During this mobility from our PROJECT ERASMUS+ a group of 3 Educators from our Organization “TheKidsFellows-Research Group in Anthrozoology (TKF)”, to Lithuania improved their skills about using horses and other farm animals in therapy and other nature activities, in a trip for 6 days, from 14 to 19 of September, of 2024. Here is their history.

“ Saturday we traveled and arrived to meet in Vilnius at this Lovely Country of Lithuania. It was such a surprise!.

On Sunday we got together and prepared for the trip, as we had to travel by car through almost all of the Country. We wanted to visit Vilnius, Kaunas, get to Kurtuvenai Natural Park for two days, and then get back from Riga Airport. So our journey started to Kaunas.

Monday morning, very early, we went from Kaunas City to Miracle animals’ facilities, a farm in this Region where we passed all day with our wonderful host Dr. Ugne Nedzinskaite. This was an amazing small farm, used as an educational space for students from University and students from the local Schools. Here animals and humans live together, with their own stories of “overcoming” bringing learnings from being there, from simplicity.

Chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, turkeys, dogs, donkeys, and ponies were all around. With such a rich environment, Dr. Ugne demonstrated to us how she develops her educational activities and teaches them to the students.  She and her staff teach how to include Active activities (exercises with dogs, hiking with the donkeys) or artistic activities with the help of animals, or Low activity activities– educational activities, including experiential-play sensory elements (smell, balance, touch, hearing, taste, vision, body awareness) in the sessions with people with several disabilities. It was very enriching for all of us!

“In my personal opinion, this job shadowing has empowered and brought awareness of the benefits of our work with animals, and horses specifically.

This has been a dream for #naturelovers like me. My #jobshadowing with @thekidsfellows was an unforgettable experience, filled with forests, hikes, lakes and incredible encounters with diverse wildlife. Learning about nature in its purest form is always inspiring. Grateful for Lithuania, I can’t wait to come back." Carlos Ganzabal

The morning after we went to Kurtuvėnai Natural Park (Šiauliai district) where besides the amazing involving nature, Equine Assisted Services Programs are developed. The Equestrian Center, and stables area are involved by nature all around. This is the perfect place to develop Mindfulness approaches. In fact, There we have seen mindful sessions for autistic adults. We experienced as a group,  a personal development coaching lesson with horses.

We truly enjoyed the wonderful environment and learned amazing histories about the legends and culture patrimony. All these experiences were very important to us to unify and have more cohesion within our team.

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"It was amazing to learn the legends from Lithuania about nature and Gods and how God created the Horses and the challenges kids have to handle to beat the fears of the forest 🌲🌲 during the night." Helena Costa

“This experience was amazing for my personal growth, I had the opportunity to learn and now I want to share it not only with the hosts but also with my colleagues from thekidsfellows." Joana Meireles