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Everyone has a Story DID Project by Dimitrios Papalexis

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This is a short video/trailer of project Everyone has a Story part of Do it Differently DID Grants funded by Bayside Council and South Eastern Local Health District SESLHD.

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if you would like to stay in touch and receive weekly newsletter email YES to sydneypersonalgrowth@gmail.com

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Special Guest Speaker Yael Orly Karrio from playback Theatre Israel and Out of the Box Playback Theatre in syfneyoffered an Art Therapy Workshop using drawing, story telling and imagination to help participants process their life experiences and prepare for grand finale with Playback Theatre.

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Hannah Morgan, Social Worker and Professional Photographer filmed last session grand finale with playback theatre and also interviewed Dimitrios Papalexis, Project Manager and Main facilitator and some of the participants to demonstrate the impact of the project Everyone has a Story. See video of final performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4halAI81bA4

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Grand Finale with Playback Theatre Performance

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Grand Finale with Playback Theatre Performance

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In the Grand Finale of the project Everyone has a Story, participants got to participate in a playback theatre performance with Out of The Box Playback Theatre. We heard many heart warming stories from a diverse group of participants and playback theatre troup played back these stories using improvisation, sound and movement. this helped the participants to connect to each other, focus on their strengths and resilience and form a community.

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In the last workshop before grand finale with Playback Theatre, Dimitrios Papalexis and his co-facilitator Luyi Huang talked about mindfulness followed by an activity from Dimitrios on gratitude and how it helped him move through difficult phases of his life overseas and increase his happiness, well-being and meaning in life. Participants gained a gratitude bottle and were taught how to use it in their lives.

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Workshop 9: Art Therapy with Guest Speaker Yael

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Workshop 9: Art Therapy with Guest Speaker Yael

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Yael's workshop was another experience of self-discovery and inspiration for participants to delve into themselves and unlease their creativity and story telling with the help of drawing and their imagination. This workshop prepared participants to share their stories for final performance with playback theatre.

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Workshop 8: Strategies to Mentally Survive and Thrive with Natalia Watts, Kogarah Citizen of the Year 2017

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Workshop 8: Strategies to Mentally Survive and Thrive with Natalia Watts, Kogarah Citizen of the Year 2017

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Natalia's workshop was a very emotional experience for the participants as she talked through her story of domestic violence and abuse. We cried, laughed and danced at the workshop as Natalia shared about her passion for dance and how it helped her to overcome her depression and traumas. Participants were impressed to hear her story of resilience and courage and got inspired to dance with Natalia at the end.

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Second Round of Workshops

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Workshop 7: Yoga and Meditation with Special Guest Speaker Aleni Matsas 

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Workshop 7: Yoga and Meditation with Special Guest Speaker Aleni Matsas 

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This was an impressive workshop from Yoga and Meditation Teacher and therapist Aleni Matsas. We had a full room and Aleni talked about the power of meditation and yoga for her life and how it helped her overcome heart failure and other chronic illnesses. She also led some meditation exercises and yoga activities for the group who was impressed by her life story, authenticity and wisdom.

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Meditation and Yoga with Guest Speaker Aleni Matsas

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Meditation and Yoga with Guest Speaker Aleni Matsas

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Workshop 6: Reflections & Sharing - Art Therapy

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Workshop 6: Reflections & Sharing - Art Therapy

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In this workshop, participants who attended completed the mid term evaluation form, reflecting on the project and workshops so far and then did an art therapy activity where they painted a picture representing their past and future which led to great sharing and insights about their live's stories and experiences.

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Reflecting on Project Mid Term Evaluation

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Reflecting on Project Mid Term Evaluation

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Completed by participants sharing their feedback about the project so far.

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Reflecting on Project mid term evaluation

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Special Guest Speaker Natalia Esdaile Watts,  Kogarah Citizen of the Year 2017 talked about Strategies to Survive and Thrive.

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Special Guest Speaker Aleni Matsas - Embody your Divinity talked about How to build Mindful Resilience using Yoga and Meditation.

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Workshop number 5: Family Dynamics Workshop

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Workshop number 5: Family Dynamics Workshop

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Workshop on Family Dynamics was great. It was an interesting process to see participants opening up and sharing about their lives and family dynamics and being generous to each other in terms of engagement and support. The group has definitely come closer in this workshop. The rainbow is made of different colors. Today we had: Hong Kong, Italy, Brazil, Greece, Macedonia, Australia and Chile in the house.

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Hip Hop & African Vibes was an interesting experience for the participants who made it on that rainy day. Azzam talked to us about his experience leaving his home country Sudan and going to Malaysia to study engineer and then to Australia where he lives and works at the moment. However Azzam's passion is dance and he has been travelling a lot teaching, learning and competing and is becoming an dance icon and recognized in Australia and overseas. His passion to teach is infectious and he combines his dance moves with wise words and encouragement to be in the moment, be yourself, enjoy your body and other positive and inspirational messages. The participants enjoyed dancing a lot and all let with a big smile.

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Special Guest Speaker Azzam Hassan from Sudan, dancer gave a fun workshop on hip hip and african vibes and talked about the power of dance to unite people from all races, backgrounds and beliefs and bring joy and well-being.
Dancing was identified as a well-being and fun activity that can get people to relax, get into their body and improve their strength, imagination, confidence and well being

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Many different material and activities were designed and delivered in the weekly workshops on topics such as: mindfulness, well-being, family dynamics, fears and dreams, challenges and strengths, aspirations, hero's journey and other.

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Everyone has a story presentation for 1st workshop heros journey

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Project Coordinator and main Facilitator

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Project Coordinator and main Facilitator

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Dimitrios Papalexis is an author, counsellor, personal growth advocate and artist with diverse experience from Greece, Australia and Brazil. He is the author of The Fool - Dreams, Synchronicities and Miracles in a Journey to Find One's Real Self, published by Balboa Press, and has participated in various radio, TV shows and public events. Dimitrios has worked in different organisations and programs in the past such as Partners in Recovery and Ability Links and hence has an extensive experience with mental health, social work, community development, multi-culturalism and strength based community projects and initiatives. He is also an active member of the Out of the Box Playback Theatre and Funky Bosses Dance Crew. Dimitrios passion lies in the integration of therapeutic and creative approaches to help people achieve well-being and greater satisfaction in life.
You can contact Dimitrios for talks, workshops or events at sydneypersonalgrowth@gmail.com or call 0426881479

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Special Guest Speaker Emma Perrow from Wollongong, author of many books, coach and mum talked about the important issue of relationships and self care which was identified as a main aspiration of the participants. During her workshop on the 15th of March

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2nd Workshop Mindfulness and Creative Expression through Theater and Art

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2nd Workshop Mindfulness and Creative Expression through Theater and Art

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In the second workshop less participants came but the advantage of a smaller group is that we can go deeper. We had a mindfulness activity and then used psychodrama to enact/bring into life the story of a participant offering insights, support, inspiration, spontaneity, joy and a sense of hope to her and the group. The participants came very close and mentioned that they felt so good that they didnt want to go. Music and food was provided at the end as an opportunity for the participants to socialize and develop friendships which is one of the objectives of the project according to the 5 characteristics of a healthy community and ABCD approach.

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First Workshop of the project took place on the 1st of March with most people who attended the info session, coming over and participating in creative activities that encouraged them to share their stories, lessons, values and dreams. It was amazing seeing how quickly people who were strangers a week ago, coming together, opening their hearts, having the courage to share their stories, crying, laughing and dancing together, forming a new community where they can share their story, trust each other, feel connected and find belonging.

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Info session took place on the 15th of February with a great group in terms of diversity and engagement. Participants from different cultures and walks of life intermingled in a fun trusting environment where the scope of Everyone has a Story project was presented, together with an activity where participants were asked to reflect on a strength they have gained from their life's experiences and challenges. Also information about the DID grants was presented to put the project in the right context. The core of the group was already created with many participants showing up in the forthcoming workshops.

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Peter Canyon, BANK OF IDEAS

Everyone has a Story is a project funded by Bayside Council and South Easter Sydney Local Health district's SESLHD "Do it Differently" DID Grants based on the principles of Asset Based Community Driven Efforts ABCD approach which simplifying means mobilizing the existing assets, strengths, natural supports and resources of individuals and communities in order to empower them to self determine and use their strengths to improve their well-being. It is world known tested and best evidence approach  that has transformed the lives of many individuals and communities around the world. In the process of applying for the grants, workshops on the ABCD approach were organised by Bayside Council and SESLHD and brilliant facilitators such as Peter Canyon were brought along to inspire passionate community members and local organisations  apply for the DID grants and use the ABCD approach to transform their communities.

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Dimitrios obtained two of Emma's inspirational and audacious books and gave away to participants that answered questions based on the Emma's talk.

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3rd Workshop: Self Care & Positive Relationships

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3rd Workshop: Self Care & Positive Relationships

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3rd Workshop on Self Care & Positive Relationships with Emma Perrow, Author, Coach, Mum was an absolute success. 12 participants came and engaged on the important topic of self care, self love and positive relationships. Emma gave many practical tips and rituals to take care of one's self and also how to form positive relationships, say no, respect yourself and your boundaries and set high standards on a relationship.