Erasmus+ training course in Italy. Lola, Lourdes, Angel and Natalia. Four people, each one from a different corner in Spain, came together to participate in an Erasmus+ project on visual facilitation during the month of May. There, they found, in addition to young people from many parts of Europe, many challenges, and the opportunity to learn about many different aspects. Do not miss their beautiful words.

LOLA ALEGRE

My name is Lola, I am from Alburquerque (Extremadura, Spain) and from the 12th to 21th May I have been in Bagnacavallo (Italy) partecipating in a training course together with different youth workers from other countries. Before continuing with my experience I would like to emphasize that the opportunities that the ERASMUS+ program makes available to European youth workers are varied. In my case I had already participated in the European Voluntary Service in France and in a cultural exchange in Latvia, but it was my first time in a training course. This as been a great change from my previous experiences since the roles have changed. I have gone from being "trained" to being "prepared".

For those who do not know what a training course is within the ERASMUS+ program, these are project managed by European organisations that seek to provide trainers and youth workers with useful skills for their future work with young people within a markedly intercultural context and, in order to carry them out, it requires other associations or "partners" in other countries. In our case we have shared the project with participants from Poland, Cyprus and Croatia, in addition to the Italian hosts.

The project in which we have participated, "Draw your Europe" (Association Belquel), was about learning and develop the basics of communication techniques with young people, but valid for any audience, which is based on drawing what you speak or speak in order that, in the end, the results are a visual summary of the oral presentation that has been presented. This technique provides a major advantage over others and it is universal. A drawing can be understood by any language, so for those of us who intend to work in the field of education (formal and non-formal) in an international context it can be presented as a truly useful technique.

Finally, I would like to add that during the eight days the training has lasted we have been emerged under a frenetic work rythm in which we have learned in a general way the whole process when someone starts talking until you finish the drawing – summarize and digitize it (if you want). However not everything has been "studying", but we have also had time to strengthen ties with other countries and start new friendships exchanges our personal and professional experiences, learn and become aware of other realities similar and different from ours. In my opinion, this is the main reason why the European Commission encourages, promotes and finances this type of opportunity, that is the "spirit" of the European Union, and my favourite parts in this kind of experiences.

LOURDES LOPEZ

In the period from 10th to 20th of May I have had the fortune of being able to participate in the "Draw your Europe" Erasmus+ training course held in Bagnacavallo, Italy. Thanks to the Spanish association Mundus and the Italian association BelQuel, I have been able to enjoy this enriching experience, together with wonderful colleagues from Spain and other European countries.

Alessandro, Stefano and Beatrice have taken us deep into the word of drawing through the visual communication technique. We have been able to visualize the image of an integrating, cooperative and growing Europe, as we carried out the activities. Undoubtedly, drawing is a good communication technique and will allow us to introduce it in our respective jobs, courses, and our day to day, etc.

I can not thank enough the participation and experience, the fun, and the involvement of the trainers and the youth workers. In addition to this, I highlight the great organization and preparation of the project, as it has helped us to fully complete all the training. I have an enormous feeling of gratification. Without a doubt, I will participate again in future projects.

Thank you very much for your work and support.

ANGEL IGLESIAS

Hi to everyone. My name is Angel and I am 30 years old and I love getting involved in everything I can and more.

I am a person that I like to throw myself into doing things without knowing or looking at what that entails. This is how I decided to send my candidacy to this TC. I said to myself: at least I can try. I send it and I'll see what happens. And at the end the bell rang and in less than week I was going on a trip. It was the first time that I was travelling abroad alone, with an airplane included. On Friday afternoon, before leaving, part of me wanted to stay indoors at home in the comfort of the sheets and in the comfort zone. I decided to throw myself and check if the pool had water or not.

And it had! The water had wonderful people in it: Lola, Lourdes and Natalia. It had a small ton in the north of Italy in the middle of nowhere and that does notappear on maps, a a wonderful hostel in which we stayed, like the trainers Alessandro 1 and Alexandro 2.

I am a lawyer and as you understand creativity, the arts and the visual are not things that I use or need in my work. For that reason, it was also a challenge to use my holiday week to roll the blanket in my head and go to this TC. As we say scabies with pleasure does not itch. I loved the intercultural nights, the dixit and the dynamics and games, as well as the testimonies and the way of understanding the visual facilitation as a job.

I want to thank through these lines the Bel Quel Association which welcomed us and the peole who took the course (Alessandro, Stefano and Bea) because they were always attentive to what I could do and enjoy like the rest of the group despite that would mean more physical effort for me.

To conclude, I just have to say that KI am waiting to find out about my summer vacation to look for a new Erasmus+ experience. So if you read these lines and you are hesitating, I encourage you to participate, do not hesitate and take advantage of every oportunity.

NATALIA SÁNCHEZ

On May 12th, the adventure began again. Why again? Because these experiences called Training Course are addictive! Do not try them, you run the risk of forgetting about the real world and wanting to live as an Erasmus+ participant forever! But what is special about these experiences? Among others, its cultural diversity.

We are in Bagnacavallo, a small village in the Ravenna region, near Bologna. A town full of charm and magic, the perfect setting for a training. But, what is a Training without participants? Nothing, they are the ones that give essence to the project. And, specifically, in this training we find particiants from Croatia, from Poland, from Portugal, from Cyprus (both from the Greek part as well as the Turkish part) and from Spain. All of them led by competent and close Italian trainers. And in this context where iterculturally is so present you realize the importance of surrounding yourself with people with different point of view, with different customs, with different beliefs..

Thus, thanks to this type of experience, participants can enrich themselves both personally and professionally. We already have the stage and the actors, but what is the script about? The theme of this training has been graphic facilitation, a visual method used to guide a group towards a specific goal. Two of the characteristics of this training, if you do not have artistic skills when drawing like me, the difficulty of the course becomes greater than for those who already have that kind of skills. That's when you realize that a training is not only fun and cultural exchange, but also growth, as we have already said, both professional and personal. In my case, due to my artistic deficiences, it was a challenge. Each proposed task was an improvement and with it, a personal satisfaction.

And what is the final balance of this training? As far as I'm concerned. I'm taking an interesting cultural exchange with incredible people, learning a very pragmatic technique and last, but not least, a brutal personal development. What are you waiting for to be the next?  

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