IKIGAI - Meaning, Wellbeing & Sustainable Engagement
This badge recognizes the ability to explore and apply the concept of Ikigai as a foundation for meaningful and sustainable youth work practice.
Rather than framing purpose as productivity or performance, this badge focuses on meaning as a protective factor for wellbeing and long-term engagement.
Participants reflect on their own sources of meaning and translate insights into youth work strategies that support young people without creating pressure.
The badge validates competence in:
- Understanding meaning as a wellbeing resource
- Recognizing how loss of meaning affects motivation
- Connecting purpose with sustainable engagement
- Designing youth work spaces where meaning can emerge
Background
Ikigai originates from Japan and can be translated as “that which gives life meaning” or “a reason to get up in the morning”
In many Western interpretations, Ikigai is reduced to a performance-oriented model focused on career and productivity. This version can be a nice supporting tool for improvemnet, but unintentionally create pressure.
The original understanding is gentler and more sustainable:
- Meaning can be found in small, everyday activities
- It is connected to relationships and contribution
- It does not need to be exceptional or productive
- It can change over time
Research in wellbeing science and positive psychology shows:
- Meaning supports long-term engagement
- Meaning protects against burnout
- Meaning increases responsible and empathetic action I
For youth workers, meaning is a professional resource.
For young people, loss of meaning often shows up as disengagement, frustration or pressure.
Sustainable engagement grows where meaning is protected - not demanded
Estimated Time: 60 -90 minutes
Required Resources:
Meaning is not a performance goal. It is a renewable resource.
Protecting meaning protects wellbeing - and enables sustainable engagement
Da pridobiš značko, moraš opraviti vse naloge
Naloge
Naloga št.1
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Complete the Ikigai Station (Group Task)
a) Reflect quietly using the provided prompts
Consider:
- When does my youth work feel meaningful?
- Which activities give me energy instead of draining it?
- Where do I feel that my contribution truly matters?
- Which strengths are connected to this sense of meaning?
- What helps me stay connected to meaning over time?
b) Share selected reflections & discuss:
- What similarities do we notice?
- What threatens meaning in youth work (structures, pressure, expectations)?
- How does loss of meaning show up in ourselves?
- How does it show up in young people?
c) Transfer to Youth Work Practice - Reflect together:
- How can youth work create spaces where meaning can emerge?
- How can we support young people in exploring purpose without pressure?
- What small everyday practices could strengthen a sense of meaning?
- How can we model a healthy relationship to engagement?
d) Create one group outcome, share it on the padlet and upload the link here as evidence:
- Short written summary (5–7 bullet points)
- Photo of key words or drawings
- Short video/audio reflection (1–2 minutes)
- The outcome must include:
- One key insight about meaning and sustainability
- One implication for youth work practice
Naloga št.2
Dokaze preveril: En organizator dejavnosti
Individual Reflection – Transfer to Your Own Youth Work Practice
Submit an individual reflection addressing:
a) Personal Meaning & Professional Sustainability
- What gives my youth work meaning?
- Where do I feel drained or disconnected?
- What threatens my own sense of purpose?
b) Youth Work Application
- Where do young people in my context struggle with meaning?
- How does loss of purpose show up (withdrawal, performance pressure, apathy)?
- How can I create low-pressure spaces for exploration
c) Practical Implementation
- What small, realistic practice could I introduce immediately?
- What structural or institutional barriers exist?
- What would be easy to implement?
- What would be difficult?
d) Methodological Reflection - Which of my current activities strengthen:
- Belonging?
- Strengths awareness?
- Contribution?
- Reflection?
Where are gaps in my practice?
e) Professional Growth
- What did I learn about my own relationship to purpose?
- How can I protect meaning sustainably in my work?
- What one concrete action will I test within the next month?
Badgecraft vodi spletno infrastrukturo za mesta in regije učenja in jo razvija skupaj z vodilnimi izobraževalnimi organizacijami. Evropski konzorcij razvija to platformo s pomočjo sofinanciranja programa Evropske unije Erasmus+. Kontaktirajte [email protected].
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