Moje moči (My Strengths, in Slovenian) is a collection of ideas designed to support the development of social and emotional competences. It was created for participants in the PLYA programme and is suitable for working with various groups of younger adults, as well as ALE participants who require support in this area. These include young people in adult primary education programmes, migrants and participants in social activation programmes.
Well-developed social and emotional competences are fundamental building blocks of mental health, as confirmed by research on psychological well-being. This well-being is characterised by specific social and emotional competences such as self-awareness, a sense of environmental mastery (e.g. I can manage), positive relationships with others, personal growth, optimism and autonomy in thinking and action.
In the covitality model Moja moč (My Strength), we explore both internal and external factors through individual and group work, with a conscious focus on:
- Fostering optimal psychological functioning (e.g. individual support, setting goals in agreement with the participant).
- Strengthening personal and environmental assets (e.g. support from mentors, fellow participants and the extended professional team).
- Alleviating and preventing psychological difficulties (e.g. active listening, connecting protective factors).
- Identifying what makes life worth living (creating meaning, encouraging creativity, reflecting on success, experiencing acceptance and recognising the individual’s contributions).
The chapters consist of a brief theoretical introduction and a variety of strategies and tools for promoting social and emotional competences, grouped into four broader areas:
- Believing in myself (self-efficacy, psychological resilience, self-confidence).
- Emotional competence (emotion regulation, empathy, self-control).
- Trust in others (support at school, family connectedness, peer support).
- Engagement in life (drive, optimism and gratitude).
The collection is designed to allow for the use of individual activities or engagement with a complete chapter. The Introduction outlines the concept and key insights related to social and emotional competences.
The collection of activities (in Slovenian), which will continue to be expanded, is available in the SIAE Digital Reading Room.
Natalija Žalec, MAEd(UK) (natalija.zalec@acs.si), SIAE