Non-formal methods...

The activities planned during this youth exchange included, exclusively, non-formal methods; the aims were to facilitate the process of interconectivity, to activate motivation and creativity, to support the process of decision making and contribution with new ideas, encouraging freedom of expression and tolerance among participants.

All these methods facilitate the learning process and support the development of key competences, the integration and assimilation of the project results and cooperation among young people. The involvement of young people in these activities help them to develop personal and social competences, and also competences for teamwork.

The non-formal methods proposed during the project activities had the objective to develop a participatory attitude, to support the process of refection, to promote tolerance, to support the integration of intercultural differences in the proces of creation and to support cooperation among young.

Enegizers: The aim of these activities is to facilitate the getting-to-know-each other, to energize them and also to facilitate the switch between the activities.

Usually these activities are group games that take up to 15 minutes.

Archer, Grandmother & Dragon: The game revolves around the story of an archer, a grandmother and a dragon. Participants divide into two teams and stand in two lines, with their backs to the other team. Each team decides whether they will be the archere, the grandmother or the dragon. They turn around to face the other team and mime an action representing who they are. The idea is that: the archer defeats the dragon, the dragon defeats the grandmother, and the grandmother defeats the archer. Sometimes, neither group will defeat the other because they will both choose to be the same thing!

A lifetime experience!

Not a very long time ago, only 6 months have passed since I have learned more

about humans, about humanity, about how similar we are in so many different ways.

Before the serious part in which I explain what exactly we did there, I need to thank to my soul sister, Andreea, to call me and tell me about this amazing experience for a human being.

The deep part is not ended, this is the start actually, because that's who I am, this is how I express myself. If you are searching for something more emotionless, well, this article won't give you that.

"Let's get a job" helped me to understand people in a way I couldn't do this with something else.

This project, the coordinators, the participants (a part of them are my friends now and I keep in touch with them) showed me that I really can do it, that I will become what I desire for years.

During Romanian Cultural Night, because I am romanian and I started to talk with anybody, I tried to learn them something about our culture. We danced traditional dances, we ate "zacuscă", "mici" (I tell them in this way because I like how they sound in romanian), a bulgarian participant (which is now an amazing friend) wanted to learn our language and that was his first lesson (by the way, he is still learning and I am proud of him).

Then, the next day we were at Târgu Jiu, the city with 3 of the most popular sculptures of this genius Constantin Brâncuși. I was a guide in there, I have never think that I will tell what is the matter with these 3 pieces of art to 40 foreigners in english. But I did it and they listened to me. I am very thankful for this. They showed me I can do something I thought it's almost impossible.

The other days were amazing. The workshops? Full of work, team work, another possibility to know how amazing people are. We made different types of CVs, cover letters, movies about how difficult or not is to get a job in this world, in EU. We did it. We made a beautiful work.

The other cultural nights? My thoughts? Amazing. I danced a lot and I had a lot of fun with people. I even helped the italians participants to make Tiramisu (so delicious). The spanish cultural night? Well, a big chance for me to understand that I really can dance. I love them for who they are. I wouldn't change anything. I prooved myself that I am still good at dancing, that I can focus again without a headache at everytime I do it.

I am grateful for every single person who was in this project. I know that the very serious part is still missing, but I mean it. I think that this is the main point of the Erasmus+ projects - connecting people. Get to know each other. Understand each other. Smile to each other.  Dance with each other? (be serious, music is really connecting people).

Thank you for giving me the chance to express my feelings in this article. My heart is grateful for it.

Oh, I have almost forgot. I’m Ana-Maria, only a human.

„Talk-show” about our project on a Radio staion from Warsaw

0 - 2 min: Kacper asked me how it was in Romania. I answered him that it was an amazing time, we were living in beautiful place near mountains. I said also that I've liked Romania since first moment because during the flight I was sitting next to soldier who started talking with me about Romania, he said only positive things. He asked me what I'm going to do in Romania and I answered that I'm going to Erasmus Plus project, he was really happy about my answer and interested in.

2 - 4:30 min: I'm talking about Horezu, about the village, the place and about pottery workshop we had there. I said that Horezu pottery is very famous in Romania.

4:30 - 6 min: Kacper asked me about typical Romanian food so I said that we were eating it all the time. I was telling about different meals we ate.

6 - 6:30 min: I was telling about prices in Romania.

6:30 - 8 min: I said about the project's topic "Let's get a job!". I said what we were doing there, that we did a lot of presentations for example about youth unemployment, we were writing CVs, cover letters. Telling about people I met in Erasmus Project, their nationalities etc.

8 - 11 min: I'm telling about visiting Bucharest.

11 - 12 min: I encourage people to visit Romania.

after 12 min: We changed the topic.

Check the radio transmission here.

See with your own eyes how fun and work blended so perfectly!

The project activities were aimed to engage young people through active participation, which is a priority in the "Erasmus+" framework. 

Also, it has been facilitated intercultural exchange, exchanging ideas, sustaining dialogue; organized tasks so that each participant had the opportunity to come into contact with a different culture. 

Knowledge and understanding of diversity, resultied from involvement in the planned activities, has contributed to increase tolerance and openness towards exchanges and intercultural dialogue.

See with your own eyes how fun and work blended so perfectly! 

Watch our project video!