EduCRAFT

In April 2024, EduEra hosted an international training course EduCraft in the peaceful surroundings of Kysak, Slovakia. The name of the project reflected its purpose — to craft learning with intention, creativity, and care. The training gathered youth workers, trainers, and educators from across Europe to explore how to design, facilitate, and evaluate meaningful educational experiences within value-based youth work.

Learning by Doing, Reflecting by Being

The training was built on the foundations of competence-based trainer development and guided by the ETS Competence Model for Trainers. Through a structured flow of non-formal education methods, participants learned not only from the trainers but also from each other — co-creating knowledge in a supportive and highly participatory environment.

The week began with creative getting-to-know and team-building activities such as Speed Dating, Mapping, and Secret Missions, which helped participants connect on both professional and personal levels. From there, the focus shifted to The Art of Debriefing and Feedback, exploring tools like the Experiential Learning Cycle, Johari Window, and multiple feedback formats. These sessions highlighted that in youth work, the real learning often happens not during the activity, but in the moments of reflection that follow.

From Methods to Mastery

One of the most inspiring parts of the programme was the “1001 Methods Fair”, a living library of non-formal education tools. Each participant presented and demonstrated their favorite activity, creating a shared pool of resources that everyone could take home.

Later in the week, the group moved into the X-Peeriments — peer-led workshops where participants became trainers themselves. They designed, facilitated, and reported their own sessions, receiving peer feedback and engaging in a “learning harvest” that gathered collective insights. This process encouraged experimentation, self-awareness, and mutual support — the essence of learning by doing.

Sessions on Ethics and Competences opened deep conversations about the responsibilities and values of youth workers and trainers. Participants reflected on how to integrate ethical principles into educational design, facilitation, and evaluation.

EduCraft reminded everyone that facilitating learning is both a skill and an art form, one that requires presence, curiosity, and ethical awareness.

By combining structure with creativity, EduCraft empowered youth workers and trainers to shape experiences that are meaningful, inclusive, and impactful.

The project once again highlighted EduEra’s commitment to innovative, competence-based learning and its ability to bring together professionals who want to make youth work more human, intentional, and sustainable.

📍 EduCraft took place from 23rd to 30th April in Kysak, Slovakia.
📩 For collaboration or partnership inquiries, contact petra@eduera.sk