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Erasmus+ Training Course
Project code: 2025-1-BG01-KA153-YOU-000304709

From July 25th to August 3rd, 2025, at Golyam Beglik Dam, in the Forest Center Chatama, we held the training course “Co-Facilitate with Nature – A Systemic Approach to Ecological Awareness”, which brought together 21 participants from 7 countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
For 10 days, immersed in nature and in an atmosphere of learning and collaboration, participants engaged in both theoretical and practical modules dedicated to developing skills for youth work through integral facilitation and a systemic approach, experiential learning, and outdoor activities.

The Process

•  Day one welcomed us with fresh energy and curiosity – participants shared stories intentions, and personal goals, and became familiar with the project idea and program.
•  In the following days, we explored ecological awareness, built through deeper connectio with ourselves, with our communities, and with nature. Participants collected “treasures” from nature, cycled through the mountains, kayaked on the lake, went on mindful walks, and engaged in various group activities.
• Through experience, laughter, and mutual support, participants immersed themselves in thprinciples of integral facilitation, learning more about group dynamics, the systemic approach, and the role of the facilitator in this process.
• International evenings created space for cultural exchange, delicious food, and games, whilinformal moments brought music, laughter, and togetherness.
• In the final days, working in national teams, each participant designed an experiential even to be applied in their own communities and organisations.

The Outcomes

• A deeper understanding that sustainable ecological awareness is built through maintaining healthy and meaningful connection with ourselves, our community, and nature.
• New knowledge and skills in facilitation and the systemic approach in youth work.
• Practical experience with experiential learning methods.
• Exchange of good practices between organisations from different countries.
• Project ideas and events designed for application in local contexts.

The participants left inspired, with new ideas and symbolic “pinecones” to share and plant in their groups and communities. The training course showed us that when we learn with mind, body, and heart, the outcomes go far beyond the time and space of the project itself.
In October, we will host a webinar to share the highlights and most valuable insights from the course – stay tuned!

2025-1-BG01-KA153-YOU-000304709 funded by the European Union

Photo credit: Igor Arkhypenko