DONE 023 – Development Of New Environments

Following the successful completion and development of the DONE educational programme over the past 15 years (2008 – 2022), we are happy to announce the opening of registrations for DONE 023. Despite an unfortunate forced break in 2020, we were able to reboot and complete DONE 021, DONE 022 as well as DM1-22 and DM1-23 in person, so we invite you to consider being a part of the next chapter of the DONE story.

Overview

The educational training programme, DONE 023, is designed for Blessed Children over 18 years old, who are interested in participating in spiritual training and education. The programme is open to those who have just graduated from high school, as well as young adults who wish to take time for their spiritual education at a later stage in life. From our experience, DONE is especially suitable for those who want a trusting and supportive environment with a serious spiritual focus; rooted in the Principle, but with enough space and freedom to develop and shape your experience independently.

The DONE programme is made up of 4 modules, beginning in September 2023 and ending in August 2024. On completion of each module, participants can then decide if they wish to sign up for the next one. The programme offers participants down-to-earth education and care in aspects of building their relationship to God and furthering their understanding of life. Through the varied schedule and educational opportunities, participants are given the chance to make their spiritual life and knowledge lasting and real. The education takes place through the content, mentoring, personal reflection and sharing throughout the programme; learning useful skills and wisdom for life from the educators, peers and by searching inwardly. The education will focus on strengthening your life of faith and becoming a more responsible adult; deepening your relationship with God and True Parents, developing self-awareness and character, and building lasting friendships with brothers and sisters.

We believe that Blessed Children need to have a healthy understanding of who they are, seeing their potential and role in taking a lead to develop new environments wherever they go and whatever they do. In line with this, DONE aims to provide participants with the opportunity to strengthen their confidence and maturity so that they can believe in their capacity to take responsibility and in the positive difference they can make in this world.

DONE 023 is organised, guided, and managed by the ESGD staff team.
Directors: Julius Alexy and Patrick Hanna
Educational support: Yebuny Hanna and Martin Alexy

The organisers and educators have a substantial amount of experience and expertise in supporting Blessed Children of different backgrounds and situations. We are dedicated to supporting participants to find their place and peace within the Unificationist community and to be encouraged and supported on their path towards the Matching and Blessing.

We are going through a very challenging period as humankind, and our spiritual education is a worthwhile investment for the future; for ourselves and the world which we are all creating.

Application and programme fee

Application deadline:  23rd July 2023 (see details below)
Programme fee: 1500 EUR
The fee must be fully paid at the start of the DONE 023 First Module regardless of whether the participant will continue on to other Modules.

The fee is calculated to cover costs, not to make a profit. We will do our best to minimise the participation costs. In any case, we would encourage participants to look for sponsorship opportunities in their communities to support their participation fee, and to find ways to earn their own money.

Application process will be run in several stages.

Application steps :
1. Register latest by 23rd July 2023 online here.
Early registrations are appreciated and helpful for all involved.
2. We will send you the application form with further details regarding how to proceed. You will have to submit your completed application form (including your CV, motivation letter and self-introduction tasks) by 31st July 2023. You can submit your completed application (all included) much earlier.
3. After receiving your first stage application we will send you an invitation to have a personal video-call with the DONE 023 key staff. This is simply to make a personal connection and to help all involved to decide if DONE is an appropriate fit for you. Note that you may be asked to provide more information related to your DONE 023 application prior to the video-call.
4. We will inform you about your acceptance latest by 15th August 2023.

Please note that DONE 023 is limited to a maximum group of 23. We therefore advise you to fully complete the application as early as possible.

Programme Details

As explained above, the DONE programme is made up of 4 modules, and follows the schedule of the European academic year, this year beginning in September 2023 and ending in August 2024. On completion of each module, participants can then decide if they wish to sign up for the next one, with the aim of putting the training they received into practice and by giving something back in follow-up modules.

Participants can therefore see this as a full-year programme with a valuable break in between each of the four modules. Indeed, the break periods have been very useful for past participants and formed an important part of their whole year programme experience. Past participants have used these break periods to travel independently, fulfilling personal desires and making the most of the precious opportunity between studies. Others have invested in developing connections with new DONE friends, and many have used that time to work or apply what they have learnt by investing into their families and communities back home.
Read some reflections of DONE graduates here.

1) DONE First Module (The Core Training Programme)

Provisional dates: Starting between 21st and 25th September; ending at around 20th November 2023 (exact arrival and departure dates will be confirmed with the acceptance letter by 15th August at the latest).

Location: The programme will begin and end in Slovakia; arrival to, and departure from, Bratislava or Vienna. We will travel to other European countries, too.

The first module is the foundational DONE educational programme; all participants considering DONE need to complete this core programme. It will be an eight week-long programme. At this stage we are planning to include 10-14 days of fundraising training period within the programme.

The module consists of:

  • 30-36 days of educational workshops (Divine Principle studies, Intercultural Communication Training, Character and Personal Growth Education, Marriage and Blessing education)
  • 4-5 days of service project (depending on the final size of the DONE 023 group)
  • 4-5 days of mountain challenge (depending on the final size of the DONE 023 group)
  • 10-14 days of fundraising training

NB: If necessary, we will be flexible to modify and adjust the schedule based on the changing circumstances.

2) DONE Second Module (DONE Online Course – DOC)

Provisional dates: Starting between 1st and 3rd December; ending between 21st and 31st January 2024 (this gives a break of approximately 2 weeks between the first and the second module, with a break over the winter holidays season).

The DOC will focus on strengthening personal responsibility as we progress on our spiritual path and personal development. It will be organised online, which allows participants to return home. This module will provide an opportunity to study and learn together and independently, with regular team activities and chances to interact as a group. The staff team will also offer additional support in the form of mentoring and personal care.

The time involvement of participants will be between 8-12 hours per week, divided between online education, team activities and personal assignments.

3) DONE Third Module (DONE Mission One)

Provisional dates: Starting between 18th and 25th February; ending between 5th and 12th May 2024 (this gives a break of approximately 3-4 weeks between the second and the third module). There is no additional participation fee for those who have successfully graduated from the first module and who fully participate in DONE Mission One.

This third module offers the chance for participants to put the training from the previous modules into practice and grow further by taking more responsibility and leadership for themselves and others. The structure and content are flexible and finalised, to some extent, by both staff and participants. This module provides the chance to build on what was learnt in the initial training periods, as well as providing opportunities for new experiences e.g., international projects, service projects, leadership training, organising education for European Blessed Children of high-school age.

We highly recommend that successful graduates of the first two DONE modules consider this third module to go much further and deeper in their journey of growth. We fully understand, however, that for some participants, a full-year commitment is not possible and that the initial 8 weeks of DONE (Module 1) is a great catalyst for moving on to personal plans for the remainder of the year, or before returning to work or education.

4) DONE Fourth Module (Summer Programmes)

Provisional dates: July/August 2024 (this gives a break of approximately 11-12 weeks between the third and the fourth module).

The fourth and final module is an opportunity to staff European summer workshops by taking an active role in educating and caring for younger Blessed Children. In addition, there is the opportunity to end the year by participating in the Original Divine Personality Plus Workshop (ODP+ WS); connecting to others outside of the DONE programme and practicing what they have gained throughout the year.

After the third module, we understand that many participants from outside of Europe will return home for their own summer plans/ local activities/ preparing for work or study. However, we would still encourage all successful graduates to consider the potential of the fourth module; for personal growth as well as a chance to offer something to others.

If you have any questions, please feel free to address them to done.europe@gmail.com or call Julius +421 905 430 939. We look forward to seeing you in September!

Julius and Patrick
on behalf of the ESGD team

Registration

Previously on DONE

Testimonials

DONE 2022/23

DONE was providing me with an ideal environment to grow. For growth you need to have freedom and be trusted but also you need guidance and support and on DONE I got all of it. DONE showed me the potential that I have as a brother and son of God. I needed a little push and confrontation in my spiritual life and in how strong my values are. I would say that I became a different person. Much more confident and clearer and able to discern and confront right from wrong much better, both within myself and in others. Despite all the values, guidance, and education I experienced an incredible, unbreakable bond to every single participant and that is really something remarkable and something that I will remember my whole life. Certain things I experienced I cannot explain because they are not in my head but in my heart.

Participant from Germany

DONE 2022/23

DONE and DONE M1 have both considerably helped me to deeply anchor my life of faith. Through experiencing the incredibly detailed and tailored content on the programme, along with the genuinely considerate staff, I was able to grow internally more than I could have thought of before applying for the programme. Being in an environment where everyone is intentionally choosing to take their faith seriously, on the programme we developed not only just friendships for life, but a family. The way the schedule works, allows for realistically evaluating aspects of your life that need to be improved or nurtured, whilst it also actively challenged me to exceed my perceived limits of my character. DONE creates a space for honest sharing that defined my experience and continues to encourage me to reflect and be more internally conscious in my everyday life. There is so much value in choosing to take time out and dedicating it to God, and having been on DONE, I feel so much more confident now contributing to my community back at home.

Participant from UK

DONE 2022/23

My fundraising experience was quite magical for me. The most valuable thing I learned was trust and faith. Being able to trust myself, have confidence in myself. To be able to overcome my own struggles and challenges. Most importantly trust and faith in God. Faith that I’m being guided in my life. Faith that I will succeed, and I will be safe. Building upon this relationship with God centred on this faith was powerful and is a strong foundation for my life going forward.
When I look back on this period of my life, I think it will one of the most important and decisive moments in my life. The connections I’ve made here are invaluable. Each of us has a support network to rely on when were in need. I’ve truly found a family here. Thank you for this amazing opportunity to grow. Grow closer to God. Grow closer to the Blessing and to being a better person.

Participant from Ireland

DONE 2022/23

When I look back on the last two years of DONE, all I can say is that I am grateful for how it aligned the beginning of my life with stronger values. How accurately your direction is tuned makes a decisive impact of what destination you reach, and I believe that both years of DONE helped me with exactly that: knowing my direction (instead of destination), and learning the skills and tools needed to keep it. This doesn’t mean that my life will be a straight line from now on, no. But when I do miss a mark, I can be sure that this incredible network of companions of faith (my fellow Doners) and a competent group of older brothers and sisters in mentoring positions, will offer the exact support I need to find my way back to a life for God.  It takes effort, and won’t always be easy, and that is exactly why we need communities and strong environments.

Participant from Germany

DONE 2022/23

DONE was genuinely one of the best and happiest times of my life. It helped me build a strong foundation for my faith through the content and the experiences I had, which I had been uncertain about for some time. I really want to live a life with God, and I’m committed to care and live for the sake of others. The relationships I made on DONE I feel couldn’t have been made anywhere else. Having that constant support and the precious bonds I made with people really inspires me to keep growing and pushing myself to be the best person I can be not just for myself but also for God and those who I really care for. Being with such caring and supportive friends helped me remove some layers I was hiding behind and see the qualities I had which I was unaware of. Being able to be truly free around others and to just be myself was a big accomplishment for me.

Participant from Ireland

DONE 2022/23

DONE is a training program, of course it´s not your usual daily life in which you are confronted with maybe more profound problems and struggles; but it´s not a bubble which just simply pops. It is a decision which you make. After coming back home one needs to make active decisions every day: to think life is for or against you, to make commitments and keep them or rather set no goals at all to be “safe” and comfortable, to be responsible in life or to be a victim, to live in the now for the future or to live in the past. To protect your personal dream (or whatever reminds you of why all this freaking work and pain would be worth it) and remember it (which can be unbearably difficult) or to choose to be lost and helpless.

Participant from Germany

DONE 2022/23

Going into DONE, with the simple reasoning of “I trust it is a good way of growing further” I had no idea of the immense value it was going to hold for me. Even with all the challenges and confrontations experienced, I gained so much more than I expected. We were able to create such depth and harmony by deciding to invest, being sincere and choosing vulnerability over comfort, and by supporting one another. It allowed me to see others with more clarity and establish unique connections, to gain more understanding of myself and to recognize my own self-worth. I was able to experience God’s love and see what it feels like to create a space where He can truly dwell and experience joy. DONE left me with an immense sense of gratitude and privilege. It is a reminder of the direction I want to walk and a reminder of a duty I carry to honour God, True Parents and my own ancestors, through my actions and life decisions.

Participant from Portugal

DONE 2022/23

I’m grateful for all the couples and families on DONE. Seeing them happy showed me what I am working towards and why I was on DONE. I realised after seeing different people playing with Kolya and Siena that I want these people to be involved in my life and when I have my own children, I want my DONE family to meet them. They are my companions of faith from now on.
What about my current family? I’ve definitely improved my patience being on DONE. I want to be more open to my family going home, based on what I’ve learned on DONE. I want to create a good environment at home that my family and I can be proud of. I don’t want to force anything on my family or be critical of the bad things that can be improved. I want to work to build on the good things that we already have.

Participant from UK

DONE 2022/23

If I had to describe my DONE M1 experience, I would compare it to skydiving. Granted, I’ve never been skydiving, but I think the analogy works. The first five weeks were focused on FR. And this was like how it is when you first jump out of the plane when you skydive. It took a while for me to adapt, but then I felt comfortable and started enjoying the fast speed (metaphorically and intensity wise). What made it incredibly meaningful was the team. We always supported and encouraged each other, and after every day, it felt like you were coming back to your family after a long day of work.
In the second part we had a week of education from Uncle Armando, and I saw it as the time you spend falling with the parachute open. Taking in information and processing everything, which was a nice period where we could ‘take in the views’. And finally, in the last week, we had a ‘long graduation’, we went to the mountains and prepared to go back to our day to day lives. And I would compare this period to when you prepare to land, ending with actually landing.

Participant from UK

DONE 2022/23

As a Second Gen, I have always been curious and wanted to learn more about the history, spiritual aspects, and traditions of our church. I wanted to understand my parents’ life course, too. DONE provided the education that I always wanted. I learned so much about the history, principles, Matching & Blessing and heart of God and True Parents.
Another big realisation was the value of my relationships with brothers and sisters. We came to DONE for different reasons, being different personalities. We came to grow and learn with an open heart. We could support each other on our spiritual journey as a family. Finding a true friendship with someone who is also serious about the spiritual growth and going through similar struggles with you is hard. I could find my companions of faith on DONE. And I am forever grateful for that. Team success is way more fulfilling than personal success. It is my privileged to offer these victories to God and True Parents.

Participant from Hong Kong

Read all testimonials