ENGAGE: Rethinking Education Together

At the end of March, 20 youth leaders from Germany, France, Romania and Czechia came together in Oparno (Czechia) as part of the Erasmus+ project ENGAGE – Empowering Next Generation Advocates for Global Education. 

They brought with them diverse experiences, perspectives and working realities. What connected them was a shared question: how can education become more just, inclusive and effective? 

Three intensive days of exchange, discussion and hands-on exploration: At the heart of the programme were topics such as EU values and European institutions, cultural identity, inclusion, as well as project planning and impact measurement. Through group exercises, reflection rounds, and Open Space sessions, the content was not only conveyed but directly applied to participants' own work, making the experience practical, participatory, and sustainable. 

“The actual testing of the different methods helped me practice and understand how to use them.” 

Exchange that matters 

What stood out most was the exchange within the international group. Different perspectives highlighted how educational approaches vary across contexts—and where they need to be adapted. 

For many, this was more than just an exchange of ideas. It was an opportunity to reflect on their own work and rethink established approaches. Participants are now taking concrete ideas back with them, ready to be tested and further developed in their own settings. 

“The training gave me new methods for creating interactive and inclusive activities and more confidence to adapt them to different groups.” 

Learning beyond the seminar room 

The setting played an important role. The group stayed in a remote, ecologically oriented mill in Oparno, surrounded by nature and far from everyday distractions. The house is organised around sustainability, with a strong focus on resource conservation, natural wastewater treatment through plants, and heating with wood stoves. Sustainability here was not an abstract idea, but part of daily life. 

The exchange continued beyond the formal sessions—during walks, shared meals, games and long conversations into the evening. 

On the final day, a group trip to Prague offered a change of perspective, shifting from the quiet rural environment back into an urban context. 

Next Steps 

Participants return to their local contexts with new ideas, practical approaches and open questions—whether in youth groups, workshops or broader educational programmes. 

At the same time, one insight stands out: meaningful education does not come from methods alone, but from the willingness to continuously reflect on and develop one’s own practice.