Learning Balloon

Aims & objectives

The Learning Balloon project was designed to introduce the non-formal education methods to youth organisations and their youth workers and youth leaders. The aim of the project was to empower youth organizations and their youth workers and youth leaders with training and cooperation opportunities, to develop their professionalism and to address European dimension of youth work.
Objectives:
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of non-formal education and lifelong learning, focusing on its characteristics and intercultural purpose.
• Enhance the capacity and professionalism of youth workers and leaders in non-formal education, fostering civic engagement and responsible citizenship.
• Promote European cooperation in youth education by facilitating intercultural sharing and the exchange of best practices.
• Enable the exchange of best practices, experiences, and expertise to foster a more democratic, civic, and social Europe.
• Boost the self-confidence of youth workers and leaders in non-formal education, developing their creativity and empowering their cognitive, emotional, and practical skills.
• Cultivate facilitation skills to deliver high-quality non-formal education programs that promote participation, ownership, and creativity among all involved.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

The participants in the training were active youth workers and youth leaders who needed additional education on different non-formal education methods they can use in everyday youth work. Emphasis was also on working in culturally very different team.
The countries involved were Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Armenia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 24 participants in total.

Training methods used & main activities

Different non-formal education methods were used during this training, including icebreakers, team-building activities, group work, treasure hunts, role plays and reflection activities.
Here is the description of non-formal method we used:
Session 1: Basics of youth work
The session started with the activity "molecules". Partcipants then worked in their national teams and answered a set of questions from their country perspective (Define Youth Work, Principles and values of YW, Who is youth in your country? Who is doing it (YW)?, Find an example of Good practice). Trainer took notes on previously prepared flipchart while groups presented their work. Later on, trainer read statements that are connected to ethical dilemmas in youth work. Participants had to choose their position on the line from AGREE, DISAGREE and NOT SURE according to the level of agreeance with the statement. Ather they positioned themselves, only one person from each position could explain their choice. Reflection was held.
In this publication you can find the timetable:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n-Y1IagqZH_-SW1qMlPYiTEL944-UCmb/view?usp=sharing

Outcomes of the activity

Info: https://www.turbina-promjena.hr/vijesti-zanimljivosti/learning-balloon-sto-bi-to-moglo-biti/

Publication: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n-Y1IagqZH_-SW1qMlPYiTEL944-UCmb/view?usp=sharing

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

I was in charge of the most of the logistics of the training, as well as preparing and implementing educational program for this training and dissemination activities.
I was the co - trainer for this training in a team that consisted of 3 experienced trainers.

I worked on this training for 7 days as a full time trainer.