The European Nonviolent Communication summer festival 

The European NVC Summer Festival centers around the practice of the communication process “Nonviolent Communication” (NVC). At the Festival, people with similar interests meet and learn from each other.  They can give and participate in a wide variety of activities and workshops and, for a week, live in a community based on the principles of care and respect.

The Festival is structured with Open Space Technology, meaning there are no official trainers. Everyone is welcome to offer workshops in whatever subject, not only in NVC.

Every year the Festival takes place in a different European country. 

Every part of the program is voluntary. Workshops are open space offers – everyone who has the drive to offer a workshop, can do it. Everyone who wants to join, can do it.

Kids and youth

We want this Festival to be accessible and attractive to kids and youth. The prices for kids and teens are as low as possible and there will be a co-created kids- and youth program, big grass fields all around to run and have fun, a forest to adventure in, a ping pong table, a chess cafe and lots of new and old friends to hang out with. There are several other hangout areas indoors and outdoors, fireplace and more.

Bring anything that you feel like sharing with the kids at the Festival: beach stuff, guitar, clay, HABA or other coöperative games, non-coöperative games :), bubble blowing, acro yoga stuff, musical instruments, paint, arts and crafts (natural materials), whatever you and the kids enjoy doing!

Kids and youth programme

On the first full day, there will be a First Morning workshop for all kids, youth and any adults who want. Other-than-parent people are very welcome too, it will probably make you enjoy the kids more if you participate in this workshop. Kids and Youth alike can also offer activities, put them on the Program posters and inform everyone about them in the morning gathering. 

Each evening at the community gathering of “mournings and celebrations”,  there will be a time slot in the beginning, where kids and youth are invited to share something about their day or suggest if there is something they would like different. They can also sit in the middle and make drawings of the day or rest on the cushions.

What can my 0-4 year old do?

We cannot promise to offer “parent-free” activities for children below 5 years (or older if your child is not comfortable being without you). You, as a parent, can join with your child in the activities organised for the 5-10 year olds. The first day you will meet others with small kids and together you can find more ways of enjoying child (free?) time together. Parents with small kids will also be able to be with them in the sharing homegroups and in the break after lunch where we have community play time: people all ages join in playful activities on the grass (large bubble blowing, badminton, hide and seek…). Some workshops are offered to all ages, meaning you can bring your child and walk in and out when it is more or less comfortable for you to be there with them. Some babies/kiddos just take naps in workshops, I wish I’d feel that brave sometimes!

What can my 5-10 year old do?

Organised physical games and other activities. Parents can join or leave their child there, if the child is okay with it. Adults and children older than 10 are also welcome to be part of the games as long as they support the fun for the younger ones.  

Meet Kids Ninja Chris: “Hello everyone! I’m Chris and I’m looking forward to meeting you all! I have been accompanying children for many, many years – including several times at NVC Festivals – and always enjoy it a lot. I live in a community in Germany with 30 adults and 20 kids – two of them live closely with me: Anour is five years old and Jiyan is seven. Most of the time I speak German, but I can also speak English and Italian. I sometimes understand French and a bit of Spanish and Dutch ???? I especially enjoy being on the move with you, doing creative handicrafts, sharing stories and having fun in nature! I would also love it if you could bring ideas, games and materials and we could do activities that you enjoy ????“

Meet Kids Ninja Magdalena: “Hi, I’m Magdalena (40 years old). In previous years I worked in the theater, which still holds a very important place in my heart. For the past year and a half, I’ve been working at a Family Centre in Frankfurt, Germany, where I’ve been exploring the world with children aged 1-10- singing,  making music, doing art and craft and rolling around in the sand and puddles. Last year I was a kids- Ninja in german NVC Festival organised by Klarweit. Children are my Masters in the Art of being Here and Now. I became quite good at it. I’m looking forward to spending time with your children while you’re at the festival workshops. I am also a mum to three children who are also attending the festival.
 
 

What can my 10-18 year old do?

We have a young team of youth ninjas who will offer activities every day. There will be offers like sports (spike ball, beach volley, floor ball, sumo wrestling and more), board games, chess café, roleplaying games, sword fencing and more. Your child can also offer activities, or just have un-organised fun!

Read more and register for the festival.