Project, Kindness is our superpower! was a primary school-based initiative to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for students between 10 and 15 years old. The forces were joined by a primary school in Slovenia Osnovna šola Tončke Čeč Trbovlje, Aspira as a local partner, non profit organisation from Trbovlje and organisation YOMN from Spain, which specialises in social inclusion, non formal education, personal development and transformative theatre, in particular by using principles of gestalt pedagogy.

The motivation behind the project Kindness is our superpower! was the recognition that a positive and inclusive learning environment is essential for pupils' academic and social success. The project promoted kindness, acceptance, belonging, and cooperation among students by empowering teachers with a Gestalt-based training program and an interactive handbook.

As teachers play a significant role in shaping the learning environment we believe it is critical to empower them with the necessary knowledge and skills. The use of Gestalt theory as a basis for the training program and the interactive handbook made the project innovative. Gestalt theory emphasises the interconnectedness of individuals and their environment, and this approach can help teachers create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

The project addresses the identified need of the school and the wider community, where there is a decline in school affiliation (reduced sense of belonging), and friendliness among pupils, cooperation, and increased bullying. This aligned with the findings of the OECD report - https://tinyurl.com/3nkt6ap6, which emphasised the importance of creating supportive and positive learning environments where pupils’ sense of belonging at school is supported and promoted; and their positive relations with teachers improve students' well-being and academic achievement.

The project aimed to empower teachers with the knowledge and skills to create a kind and inclusive school community, promote a sense of belonging and cooperation among pupils, reduce bullying and negative behaviour, and develop a school identity that promotes positivity, kindness, and acceptance. The project developed a training methodology for teachers based on Gestalt theory, which includes sessions on understanding the importance of belonging and cooperation, creating a positive classroom environment, and addressing bullying and deviant behaviour through attractive and engaging activities.

An interactive handbook that includes the methodology and classroom activities wasdeveloped, promoting kindness, acceptance, belonging, and cooperation. The effectiveness of the methodology and handbook was evaluated through pre- and post-intervention surveys and focus groups with teachers and pupils.

Project outcomes include empowered teachers who can create a kind and inclusive school community, pupils who feel a sense of belonging and cooperation, a school identity that promotes positivity, kindness, and acceptance, and a useful handbook for teachers that will continue to be used beyond the project's duration.

We hope you can put the handbook to good use and that it will support your efforts to create more opportunities for communication, feelings as if we belong and feeling empowered and connected through the process. Process itself might be a “hairy”, but it is worth it!