Three Treasures II
 

Three Treasures: Taoist Wisdom in Youth Work

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“Three Treasures,” rooted in the holistic Taoist philosophy of nurturing body, mind, and soul, is an innovative training course designed for youth workers experiencing the early signs of burnout. It also supports the development of their European Training System (ETS) competencies and expands their ability to work creatively with young people, especially those facing mental health challenges.

Taking place at the unique Three Treasures Valley youth and martial arts center in rural Hungary – a community-led space known for its sustainability, volunteer-based operation, and deep commitment to embodied leadership – this training invites participants to immerse themselves in the daily practices and theory behind the center’s work, while developing their own resilience tools.

 Core Practices:

At the heart of the program are the Bang Stick and Chi Kung (Qigong) techniques – powerful, accessible body-based practices that support grounding, energy flow, self-regulation, and emotional balance. These methods help participants become more aware of their inner state, connect to their physical and emotional bodies, and find presence even in the most challenging moments of youth work.

Participants will also be introduced to the Five Elements System, a several-thousand-year-old Taoist framework that guides individuals to create harmony both within themselves and with the world around them. In this view, personal well-being is not just an individual matter – it’s the result of balanced interaction between the internal world and external forces.

Through these methods, participants will explore how to translate deep awareness into practical approaches for youth engagement, focusing on Gen Z’s needs in areas like mental health, identity, and digital presence.

Program Objectives:

• To enhance personal and professional well-being, boosting confidence and work-life balance for youth workers

• To introduce embodied tools rooted in Eastern traditions for use in non-formal education

• To deepen understanding of Gen Z needs and provide adaptive, creative methods for reaching and supporting them

• To raise the recognition of resilience as a key concept in the youth field, especially for inclusion and mental health

 What participants will gain:

• Practical knowledge and daily experience of Chi Kung and Bang Stick exercises

• A deeper understanding of the Five Elements System for both self-awareness and interpersonal communication

• Tools and reflective practices to support mental and emotional health in their target groups

• Strategies for maintaining career longevity and sustainable work in the youth sector

• A self-assessment learning cycle aligned with ETS competence models

• Peer exchange and co-creation of new approaches for youth mental health and inclusion

• Access to follow-up dissemination opportunities at national and international levels​

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About the Five Elements System:

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The Five Elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water – represent qualities of energy, emotion, and interaction that exist in all aspects of life. Participants will explore:

The individual level: understanding one's own motivations, talents, challenges, and potential for self-harmony

The interpersonal level: applying awareness to relationships, daily life, and youth work situations

The effectiveness of the system lies in its cyclical understanding of change, showing how to nurture, regulate, or guide a situation using elemental interactions. When embodied through movement, breath, and simple visualization, the Five Elements become living tools for self-care and connection.

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Date: 26 September - 05 October 2025, Bátonyterenye, Hungary

Project Reference: 2025-1-HU01-KA151-YOU-000297895

Five Elements toolkit for well being practices:

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