๐ Osieck, Poland | ๐ 10–18 May 2025 | ๐ช๐บ Erasmus+ Training Course
Between 10–18 May 2025, youth workers from Romania, Spain, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia came together in Osieck, Poland, to participate in an Erasmus+ learning experience that mixed creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and emotional intelligence into one powerful concept: Facilitation.
Organized by YoWo Poland under their Erasmus+ accreditation, Faciliteasy was not just a training course—it was an immersive space for experimenting, failing safely, collaborating meaningfully, and growing together. With visual facilitation as a central tool, the course combined structured content with playfulness, humor, and storytelling, drawing inspiration from the world of Kung Fu Panda.
๐งญ Structure of the Week
The 7-day program was designed as a growing learning journey, gamified into “levels” like Entering the Jade Palace, Facilitator’s Trials, or Dragon Warrior Preps. Each day brought new techniques and deeper reflection.
Key workshops and highlights included:
- Tai Lung Clash: a signature session where participants designed and delivered 25-minute interactive workshops in pairs or small teams.
- Graphic Facilitation: sessions on how to use drawings, icons, and layout to enhance visual learning.
- Feedback Mastery: participants practiced techniques like the SBI Model (Situation–Behaviour–Impact) and explored how to give constructive, timely, and context-sensitive feedback.
- Finger Rules & Role Cards: innovative tools were introduced to facilitate group discussions, support inclusiveness, and streamline decision-making.
- Chorh-Gom Prison Escape & Herd Mentality: playful yet meaningful simulations that fostered strategic thinking and group cohesion.
The process was intentionally designed to include purpose, people, and process as the core pillars of successful facilitation.
๐ฌ Voices from Romania – Testimonials
“I discovered that facilitation isn’t about having all the answers, but about designing the right questions. This experience gave me both the courage and tools to create learning spaces that spark real transformation.” - Lina (GEYC, Romania)
“It was eye-opening to see how facilitation connects purpose, people, and process. I especially enjoyed visual facilitation—it helped me unlock a new language for working with groups.” - Corina (GEYC, Romania)
“Faciliteasy allowed us to practice, reflect, and co-create. I leave with new facilitation skills and a sense of community. The Tai Lung Clash was my favorite moment—it challenged us to lead and support at the same time.” - Elvira (GEYC, Romania)
๐ International and Intercultural Collaboration
The course created a space for collaboration across countries, where participants exchanged best practices from their own youth work experiences and explored how facilitation supports engagement, empathy, and learning in non-formal settings. The Expectations, Fears and Contributions Board, Youthpass Competences, and Starfish Reflection helped shape personal learning goals and track individual growth.
What Did We Learn?
✔️ Facilitators are Architects, Pilots, and Guides: designing flow, navigating the group, and offering direction when needed.
✔️ Non-formal learning thrives on creativity: sessions were learner-centered, process-based, and built around participation.
✔️ Every voice matters: diverse visual and verbal tools support inclusion and accessibility.
๐ A Dragon Scroll of New Beginnings
On the final day, participants reflected on their development, received feedback, and explored what’s next through the Youthpass and Secret Ingredient sessions. Beyond knowledge, what they took home was the confidence to facilitate with purpose.
As one of the group’s visual posters reminded us:
“Today is a gift.”
And that’s exactly what Faciliteasy was: a gift of growth, community, and empowerment.
