‘Empowering Puppetry’ intensive week in Kaunas focuses on children with sensory integration disorders

From May 4–8, the Nordplus project ‘Empowering Puppetry’ gathered partners in Kaunas for an intensive week on children with sensory integration disorders, fostering collaboration, learning, and shared experience.

On May 4, the intensive week of the international Nordplus project Empowering Puppetry (Intensive Course (IC) – ‘Health and Well-being: Puppet Educator for Children with Sensory Integration Disorders’) began at the Department of Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Medicine at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution. Now in its sixth year, the project brings together partner institutions: Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Tartu Health Care College (Estonia), P. Stradiņš Medical College of the University of Latvia (Latvia), and Kauno kolegija (Lithuania) with the shared goal of developing innovative education and rehabilitation methods.

This year’s intensive week is dedicated to the health and well-being of children with sensory integration disorders. Lecturers from Kauno kolegija Milda Gintilienė and Dainė Krasuckienė have prepared an intensive and diverse programme for the participating students  from each  project  partner institutions. As participants represent various fields of study: future occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and social rehabilitation specialists, therefore while working together are  creating an interdisciplinary and international learning environment.

On the first day, much attention was given to community building: participants got to know one another, engaged in interactive icebreaker activities, presented their prepared reports, and discussed homework tasks. These activities helped establish professional connections and foster an open, collaborative atmosphere.