Between July and September 2024, a blended learning summer school was held for students of the THWS Master's program “International Social Work with Refugees and Migrants,” as well as for Lebanese (MUBS) and Jordanian (GJU) students. The thematic focus of this summer school was on social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and the power of adaptability.

Over a total of six days (on 09.07. and 11.07. as well as between 05.09. and 09.09.2024), online lectures were delivered by entrepreneurs, organizations, and social workers from Jordan and Lebanon.

Due to the current political situation and the associated security risks in the Middle East, the planned trip to Jordan for the in-person events of the summer school was canceled. Instead, five Jordanian students traveled to Würzburg between 15.09. and 22.09. to join the THWS students in an international exchange and to engage in practical learning on the topics of sustainability, social work, and the power of adaptability in the Schloss Tempelhof ecological community.

During their stay in Tempelhof, the students participated in various workshops:

• Dragon Dreaming
• Interconnecting and Recognizing Our Storylines
• Rotating Conversations
• Connecting Paths and Unlocking Insights
• Knowledge Mapping
• Lecture and discussion on the ecological community Schloss Tempelhof
• Social Presencing Theater
• Presentations by THWS students on topics such as: Theory of Change, Innovative and Sustainable Social Work in the Middle East, Biodiversity, The Power of Fair Trade, Noise Pollution, and Göbeklitepe – Turkey.

In the workshops, the students were introduced to a variety of methods and were encouraged to reflect on their own decisions and try out new approaches.

After the in-person mobility, a final online conference on “Anti-Oppressive Practice” took place on 25.09. and 26.09., organized and hosted by the GJU in Jordan.

Due to the current situation in Lebanon, the Lebanese students were unfortunately unable to travel to Germany. However, we hope to welcome them during the next mobility.

Between May 30th and June 4th, 2024, another ThRIvE project activity took place in Würzburg, Germany. For this activity, nine students from Lebanon and Jordan, each accompanied by a chaperone, traveled to Germany. Nine students from the THWS Bachelor's degree program in Social Work also participated. The thematic focus of this mobility was the exploration of creative, sustainable methods for social change. During the project week, the guests from Lebanon and Jordan joined the THWS students in various workshops.

• Sustainable Project Planning Dragon Dreaming
• Forum Theater & Social Presentation Theater
• Solidarity-based Agriculture (SoLaWi): Students participated in a presentation on “Encountering the wisdom of architecture and agriculture: engaging with space and the earth in SoLaWi – Solidarity-based Agriculture” and learned about the opportunities and challenges of SoLaWi and sustainable living.  
• Embodiment Practice
• Lecture at the Environmental Station: The students took part in another lecture on “Education for Sustainable Development and Global Learning” and also learned about the work areas and tasks of the Würzburg Environmental Station.
• Filming with Cell Phones: In a total of six hours, the students learned practically how to film professionally with cell phones and how to edit and compile these recordings in a program.

During the workshops, the students learned about a range of methods and interventions. In addition, the students and their chaperones spent two and a half days at Schloss Tonndorf during this mobility. There, they got to know each other better on a personal and cultural level and also experienced living in an ecologically sustainable community. After the mobility, the students creatively prepared a presentation of their dream projects in their respective home countries using the methods they had learned and presented it online to the entire group on July 4th, 2024.

The first project activity of the ThRIvE project took place from May 12^th until May 21^st, 2023, in Würzburg, Germany. For the project activity, came 9 students from Lebanon and Jordan together with one lecturer each to Germany. The thematic focus of this mobility was social work with youth to promote and achieve social cohesion and community wellbeing. During the mobility week, the guests from Lebanon and Jordan together with students from the THWS took part in five different workshops: 

• Interactive Theater for Empowerment: The group got to know and experience interactive theater as a method of conflict resolution.  
• Adventure Education: Adventure education focuses on one’s own experience (usually in nature), in order to strengthen the group cohesion and to promote social skills.
• Education and Sustainability: In the sustainability workshop, the focus was on the current climate crisis and how you, as an individual, can slow down the crisis. The correct handling of emotions (emotions to empower oneself) and the inclusion of networks, cooperation, and politics were discussed.
• Migration Education: In migration education, the focus is on communal inclusion and power relations in the migration society. The workshop was about acceptance, tolerance, and a general confrontation with different cultures and perspectives.  
• Integration by Sports: Integration by Sports aims at integrating refugees and migrants into society through sport and leisure activities. It thus promotes intercultural skills and strengthens well-being. 

During all workshops, the students experienced a spectrum of methods and interventions, which they will implement after the mobility in their respective home countries as part of a practical intervention. After the workshops, the students also spent their free time together, got to know each other better on a personal and cultural level, and explored Würzburg together. After the in-presence workshop week, the students have about 2 ½ months for the practical interventions before the group meets again online to reflect on the respective experiences.