From August 1-8, Gabriela Mezeiova and I, Marco Rogai, had the incredible opportunity to represent Slovak Eco Quality (SEQ) at the Youth Leadership Training Course in Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania. This transformative experience, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ KA1 program, focused on empowering youth workers with leadership skills and gamification techniques to support young people in becoming future leaders and change-makers.
Our Journey to Romania
Our adventure began with a scenic train ride from Bratislava to Budapest, followed by a night train through the lush forests of Romania. The journey itself was a testament to sustainable travel, setting the tone for the green initiatives we develop at SEQ.
Immersive Training Experience
The training course in Targoviste, expertly organized by Asociația Be You, was a deep dive into the principles of youth leadership and gamification. The initial sessions were dedicated to understanding leadership and conflict management, essential skills for youth workers and young leaders. We engaged in interactive workshops that explored leadership styles and techniques for effectively conveying these concepts to young people. The second part of the training introduced us to gamification. Using design thinking, we collaborated in groups to ideate and develop educational games. Gabriela and I, along with our teammates Vitek and Kalin, created the “ST/CHOOL of Leadership,” a game designed to enhance leadership, collaboration, and project management skills among youth. The process was both challenging and rewarding, offering us hands-on experience in applying gamification to youth work.
Diverse and Dynamic Group
Our group was a vibrant mix of youth workers from eight different countries, each bringing unique perspectives and methodologies. This diversity enriched our learning experience, allowing us to share and adopt best practices in youth leadership and gamification.
Future Applications at SEQ
After the successful experience of the CARBON-FOOTPRINT board game, we are very close to launching two new educational board games in the framework of the 4F – Fast Fashion? Fast Forward! project. The insights and skills we gained from this training will significantly enhance the projects and initiatives of SEQ and we plan to continue incorporating gamification techniques into our existing and future programs to make learning more engaging and effective. We are looking forward to using our brand new “ST/CHOOL of Leadership” game in future activities continuing to support the professional development of young leaders in our community.
Conclusion
Our week in Targoviste was more than just a training course—it was a journey of personal growth and professional development. We left Romania not only with new skills and knowledge but also with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. The morale of our story is simple yet profound: when we invest in the development of young leaders and embrace innovative methods like gamification, we pave the way for a future led by informed, creative, and passionate change-makers. This experience reaffirmed our belief that by empowering youth today, we are nurturing the leaders of tomorrow who will drive positive change in their communities and beyond.