For whom?
We invite participants, who are living in an intercultural relationship, were in such or hope to be in one. We also welcome practitioners who work or want to work with intercultural couples and all of You who are simply interested in this subject. Goals: During the workshop we will: explore the impact of culture on love share good practices of working with intercultural couples show exercises to enhance effective communication in intercultural couple Methodology: We combine cross cultural competences and Non Violent Communication tools. Our methodology came as a result of international two year Erasmus+ project Meet Me Halfway – the art of living independent together, in which three organisations from Poland, Italy and Spain shared their experience Methods: mini presentation active methods: exercises in pairs and groups discussion
What is the workshop about?
It is about LOVE- as simple, basic and yet as much complicated as it sounds. I love you, Ti amo, Je t’aime – we probably know what it means, even if we do not know English, Italian or French very well. The word LOVE is probably one of the best-known words in foreign languages. Love is a universal emotion experienced by most people, in different historical periods and in all cultures. Love manifests itself in different ways, because culture affects the manner people understand love/define love, and how they feel, think and behave in romantic relationships. Love can be expressed not only in words, but also in actions and in other ways. What will we do? During the workshop we will share our experience of working with intercultural couples. We will present some of the exercises that aim to get better intercultural awareness, to understand potential cultural differences. We will reflect on cultural messages about love.We will also look together for solutions how to deal with the challenges and enhance communication in intercultural couples by focusing and expressing needs that are universal.
Anna Kawalska and Vesna Lorenc
Anna Kawalska – an intercultural psychologist, trainer of intercultural competence, diversity and inclusion and psychological skills, art therapist and psychotraumatologist. She designs workshops, courses, educational materials for diverse groups- NGO, public administration, education and business sector.
She supports migrants and refugees in their integration and cultural adaptation. Her mission is to facilitate dialog and enhance mutual understanding between people, acknowledging the beauty of diversity.
Vesna Lorenc – Communication and working closely with people has been at the core of Vesna’s professional career. She has Serbian roots and nationality however for many years she has been living and working in Poland and abroad gaining global mindset and cross cultural background. Vesna has been working in business since 1998 and she focused on the training and development industry since 2011. As a business trainer, coach, facilitator and mediator, she supports clients globally, including organisational leaders and private, public or non-profit institutions. She leads workshops, training courses, long-term development programs, team coaching, business coaching, action learning sessions, facilitation and mediations with a focus on intercultural and diversity issues. Vesna is specialized in the areas of leadership and communication (interpersonal, business, intercultural), building and brand development strategy (people, service, product, company), intercultural awareness (communication, managing diversity, relocation, cross-cultural skills development) training and coaching, and corporate wellness (anti-stress workshops, reconciliation, mindfulness). She is an expert and spokesman on self-development and coaching, also author in specialized, business and lifestyle media.
Vesna’s clients values her for authenticity, engaging approach, also for her empathy and highly developed communication skills.