From 14 to 21 April 2023, our project “Labirint 3.0: A Path to Self-Care” funded by Erasmus programe of the European Union embarked on an unforgettable journey to Sondershausen, Germany, for a week long training at the Ferienpark Feuerkuppe. This Training Course marked the inaugural activity of “Labirint 3.0: A Path to Self-Care,” dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth among youth workers through the power of non-formal education and using outdoor education.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Thuringia, the week was meticulously designed to offer a holistic blend of workshops, team-building exercises, and cultural exchange. Our focus was to equip participants with innovative self-care strategies, enhancing their ability to support young people effectively. The programme included various theoretical and practical excersises and a most challanging one of them being the Night Hike. The group was split into two teams with two different routes. One of the groups mamaged to walk 32 Km long distance in 9 hours.
The training course gathered participants from different countries, such as: Ukraine, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Germany and Austria. During the week, participants actively studied, mastered theoretical and practical material, developed leadership skills and teamwork skills. The beauty of Sondershausen, combined with the Ferienpark Feuerkuppe’s serene environment, provided the perfect setting for reflection, learning, and growth.
The purpose of the international training course for youth workers “Labirint 3.0” was:
- to investigate the outdoor education of youth and its influence on personality formation;
- articulate and reflect on participants’ own outdoor learning values and experiences;
- exploring the experiences of different outdoor methods and techniques and thinking about ways to incorporate these methods and techniques into everyday work with young people, including young people with fewer opportunities, young people from marginalized backgrounds, radicalized young people or refugees;
- to share practices, experience, methods and techniques of training in order to improve the quality of work with young people;
- to develop participants’ reflective skills and critical thinking, innovation, creative thinking and complex outdoor learning contexts and their application;
- to develop participants’ competencies in designing, planning, implementing and evaluating outdoor training sessions;
- understand and manage outdoor risks and safety;
- to expand participants’ knowledge of Erasmus+, to support the creation of new project ideas based on the use of outdoor methods and techniques, and to facilitate the establishment of connections and cooperation between participating countries.
As we navigated the complexities of youth work in today’s ever-changing landscape, the activity fostered a spirit of collaboration and mutual support among participants. The experience not only enriched our understanding of outdoor education but also strengthened the bonds within our European community of youth workers.
As we move forward, the insights and friendships forged in Sondershausen will undoubtedly fuel our ongoing commitment to nurturing the well-being of both youth workers and the young people they serve. This activity has set a precedent for the transformative potential of non-formal education, and we eagerly anticipate the journey ahead. Guided by the expertise of Bogdan Imre, Vera Goriunova, and Eduard Oganyan, each day became an enriching experience, pushing our limits and fostering unity.
🇪🇺 The Labirint 3.0 project was co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
