23/04 – 30/04/2025
From the 23rd to the 30th of April 2025, a group of passionate youth workers and educators gathered in Kysak, Slovakia, for an immersive training course: EduCraft. This Erasmus+ project, co-funded by the European Union and supported by Eurodesk, focused on exploring innovative approaches in non-formal education. Hosted deep in the serene Slovak forest, the course offered a week of creative collaboration, reflection, and hands-on learning offline and deeply connected.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in a series of enriching sessions and workshops centered on non-formal education. They explored:
How to design and facilitate experiential learning activities The power of nature, creativity, and play in the learning process Developing facilitation and feedback skills through practical sessions
Participants co-created and tested original educational activities, exchanged methods and philosophies, and bonded through shared moments without the distraction of digital tools.
Katerina shared:
“If someone told me, ‘You’re going to spend six days in a Slovak forest, with strangers, crafting education—and without Wi-Fi,’ I would’ve thought, ‘This only happens in the movies!’ But now that I’ve lived it, I can honestly say: Laying in the grass while building creative workshops, exchanging thoughts and our favorite music during the cookie festival, reflecting while drawing mandalas at sunset, and enjoying endless table football matches at night… It all magically transformed strangers into family, educators into inspiration, and thoughts into action. Thank you Go Alive for making this happen! I’ll forever appreciate every moment and keep it in my heart.”
Vasia said:
“I’d like to thank GO Alive for giving me the opportunity to participate in the project EduCraft in Slovakia. I also want to thank the organisation EduEra and our amazing trainers Petra & Marcus. This project was an unforgettable experience during which we learnt a lot about non-formal education, experiential learning and we leveled up our facilitation skills! We also had the chance to meet new people, exchange ideas and explore together. I will never forget this week and can’t wait to meet everyone again.”
Maria reflected:
“The training focused on strengthening our ability to design, facilitate, and evaluate educational activities rooted in non-formal education. During the course, we worked extensively with key frameworks such as the SWOT analysis and the experiential learning cycle, which served as essential tools for both self-reflection and pedagogical planning.
A particularly impactful aspect of the programme was the opportunity to engage with experiential learning toolkits and apply our learning by preparing, implementing, and receiving feedback on our own workshops.
This hands-on approach not only supported our professional development as facilitators but also fostered a collaborative and reflective learning environment. I am deeply grateful to EduEra for creating such a supportive and inspiring educational space, and to GO Alive for enabling my participation in this valuable initiative. I look forward to integrating these experiences and tools into my ongoing work with youth and educational communities.”
The EduCraft training was more than learning methods—it was about rediscovering the power of presence. Surrounded by nature, participants let go of distractions, strengthened their ability to connect authentically, and focused deeply on building relevant, impactful learning spaces.
From morning energisers to evening campfire reflections, the week created an atmosphere of growth, collaboration, and shared creativity.
Thank you to all the participants, partners, and trainers for bringing such warmth and innovation to this experience.
Stay connected with GO Alive to explore new opportunities for growth, collaboration, and change through Erasmus+!
