Instytut Innowacji

Another interesting podcast episode from the series "Talking Youth Work" within our project The Inception of Learning is out! Anita Silva and Rui Branco from Team MAIS talk with Paul Meunier, Executive Director of Youth Intervention Programs Association, the author of the book “Relationships Are Everything: What Youth Workers Teach Us About Leadership” and youth worker at heart, as he says about himself.
Very insightful talk about similarities between generations, importance of inquiries, the "I don't know" philosophy, strength in sloppiness of human interactions versus relationships with AI. At the end, the fundamental question - who is responsible for how the next generations are?
Another interesting perspective on learning and youth work, this time directly from USA, seasoned with the humour of the lovely, as always, hosts and sprinkled with a bit of stoicism ;)

Enjoy the episode here: Let's Talk Youth Work.
Podbean → https://shorturl.at/C5j93iTunes/
Apple Podcasts → https://shorturl.at/TisMd
Spotify → https://shorturl.at/ZnFCI
YouTube → https://shorturl.at/0EvDk

"The inception of learning" project is co-financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project number: 2024-1-PL01-KA220-YOU-000255719

The last day of Facilitator’s Journey 2.0. We started the morning with a Wisdom Circle led by one of the participants, creating space for sharing questions, insights, and collective learning. Later, we went for another walk and talk, this time focusing on the learning outcomes of the training and what each of us is taking from this experience. Then participants met in the last reflection trio meeting.

In the afternoon, we gathered to reflect on our learning, create dissemination plans, and think about how to bring this experience into our future work. The training closed with a final circle, where participants shared their reflections, followed by the Youthpass ceremony.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Day 5 of Facilitator’s Journey 2.0 was dedicated to feedback and practice.

We started the day with a session on feedback, exploring how to give and receive it in a way that supports learning and growth.

Then participants took over the space and facilitated their own sessions. In the first parallel block, one group invited us into a simulation on manipulation and how to recognise it, while another created a dance and embodiment session focused on movement and expression.

In the afternoon, we continued with two more sessions. One focused on creating safe spaces, and the other explored the use of AI prompts as a tool in facilitation.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Day 4 of Facilitator’s Journey 2.0 invited us to look deeper into how groups function and how we show up within them.

In the morning, we explored group dynamics and the Tuckman model, reflecting on how groups develop over time and what they need at different stages. We then moved into a land art activity, where participants created a shared representation of the facilitator’s journey. The debrief that followed brought many insights about cooperation, roles, and working together without words.

In the afternoon, we shifted focus to ethics in the work of facilitators, trainers, and educators. This opened space to reflect on values, responsibility, and the impact we have when working with people.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Yesterday was the third day of Facilitator’s Journey 2.0, and we continued to deepen our learning through experience and practice.

In the morning, participants explored experiential learning and reflected on how learning happens through doing, reflecting, and applying. This helped to better understand how to design meaningful learning processes.

Later, we moved into the topic of creativity as an important skill for facilitators. We looked at how creativity can support engagement, flexibility, and responsiveness when working with groups.

In the afternoon, participants worked on planning their own sessions using a matrix. This was a space to connect ideas with practice and to take another step into the role of a facilitator.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

During the second day of "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0", participants had the opportunity to step into the role of facilitators and deliver short, informative, and engaging sessions.

They explored topics such as general information about Erasmus+, what a youth exchange is, what mobility projects for youth workers are, what Youthpass is, and what non-formal education is and how it differs from formal education and informal learning.

In the afternoon, participants took part in learning interviews. We strongly believe that facilitators need to remain learners themselves in order to grow and to better support the groups they work with.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Today was the first day of another training within our Erasmus+ Accreditation in the youth sector: "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0".

We began this new learning journey by getting to know each other and creating the foundation for the days ahead. Through different activities and a walk and talk, participants had the space to connect, share, and slowly step into the group.

We also explored what this training is about: developing facilitation skills, understanding how learning happens, and preparing to design and guide meaningful learning processes for young people.

An important part of the day was reflecting on how we want to be and work together during the next 6 days, co-creating a space based on trust, openness, and mutual support.

The training "Facilitator’s Journey 2.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Yesterday, we reached the final day of communiCARE 4.0.

In the morning we dived into the topic of gratitude and appreciation, creating space to recognize what we received, what we learned, and what we value in ourselves and others.

Later we met for the last time in our Home Groups, taking time to reflect on our learning, our process, and what we take with us from this journey.

In the final session we focused on sharing plans for dissemination, evaluation, and closing the whole process together.

The training "communiCARE 4.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Today was a full day of practice in communiCARE 4.0!

In the morning participants explored different ways of listening in challenging situations. They had a chance to notice how their reactions change depending on where their attention goes and how they relate to themselves and others. Later, we brought this learning into movement, allowing the experience to become more embodied and alive.

In the afternoon participants could choose which areas they wanted to practice more. This created space for deeper learning, personal focus, and following what felt most relevant for each person.

The training "communiCARE 4.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Today was the fourth day of communiCARE 4.0 and we continued deepening our practice of empathic communication.

In the morning we focused on requests and how to distinguish them from demands. Participants explored how to formulate requests, and practiced bringing more awareness into how they ask for what they need.

Later we moved into the topic of conflict. We explored how to approach conflict through the lens of NVC, looking beyond positions and strategies to understand the feelings and needs on both sides.

The training "communiCARE 4.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Today was another deep and meaningful day in communiCARE 4.0.

In the morning, we continued and completed our exploration of empathy. Later, we moved into the core elements of Nonviolent Communication. We worked on distinguishing observations from interpretations, naming our feelings more clearly, and connecting them to our needs.

It was a day full of reflection, learning, and small but important discoveries about ourselves and how we relate to others.

The training "communiCARE 4.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662

Today was our second day of communiCARE 4.0 and we went deeper into communication and connection.

In the morning, we explored what empathy is and what it is not. We reflected on how our usual responses, even with good intentions, can sometimes block connection.

Later, participants worked in small groups on key ideas of Nonviolent Communication, bringing different perspectives and making the learning more alive.

In the afternoon, we focused on practice. There was space to experience different ways of responding, reflect on them, and try more empathic ways of listening and being present.

The training "communiCARE 4.0" is financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Project reference number: 2025-1-PL01-KA151-YOU-000300662