Our project UP the hill was a two stages training, where we aimed to work with teachers and educators and give them tools of non-formal education they will use in their daily work and enhance education in their countries (EU and non-EU countries). With this project we wanted to support our participants and partner organizations in using the non-formal education methods in connection in the formal-education system. As we believe that in our societies we have a huge skills gap (Skills for 21st century) the place of non-formal learning is very needed in education in general. We wanted to educate especially educators in the formal system to gain the experience and skills to use the non-formal education methods in their daily work. We learned a lot from our other KA1 projects, such as Step Out, Level Up, Inclusion for Empowerment and Leaders of Tomorrow and we wanted to focus less on personal learning but more on helping professionals working in the non-formal education field, to learn how to use non-formal education methods in youth work. We also gained a lot of experience with the formal and non-formal education while cooperating on the KA2 projects - ZOOM Media, Kinetic (www.kineticatwork.com) or Education in, through and for culture and heritage, that we have already implemented. Because we were working on those projects with schools - we gained many insights into the needs of the educators in formal education. And that is why we decided to implement this project. During this project we also used the Kinetic method and shared the book with the methodology with all the participants, so they can use it and share it in their communities. The main objectives of the projects were to have a common understanding of youth work and non-formal education among all the participants from EU and non-EU countries so later on they were able to use it. And to share with the participants the methods of non-formal education that they can use in their local communities (group reflections, theater improvisation activities, group activities, etc.). Here's what we focused on: - Learning about Non-formal Education: Our trainer helped participants to understand non-formal education and its use in practice. Participants learned about how it's unique, what benefits it offers, and how it's different from formal education. - The Goal of Education: Our way of education was not traditional. We aimed to help participants understand how everyone learns differently. This way, they could help everyone learn in the best way possible, stimulating their minds. And throughout both TCs we used many activities from the non-formal education. - Fun in Learning: We believe that if you enjoy learning, it becomes more effective, especially with the youngsters. So, we focused on making learning fun and engaging, not only informative. The key part of it is experiential learning (learning by doing). - Teamwork: Our project was about changing the typical teacher-student relationship. We wanted a more equal relationship, with more focus on leadership. - Using Past Experiences: We used what we learned from our past projects to create more chances to learn across different countries. We emphasized important skills for long-term non-formal education initiatives, such as planning, executing, and adapting. - Thinking Ahead: This project was also a stepping stone for future projects. We wanted to extend our focus from training to also include job shadowing to have a bigger impact in the future. - Understanding Today's Youth: We paid attention to the needs of young people today. We showed how non-formal education can play a big role in their growth. As said earlier, this project had two stages : Stage 1 in the Czech Republic: We started with building the basics in youth work, especially non-formal education methods. Participants explored non-formal education, figured out their roles, and learned planning and improvisation skills. Mid-term task: To gain practical skills that were shared during the second stage and became basis for their learning during the second stage. The participants used the opportunity of the mentoring from our trainer and the project team, on roder to implement the best version of the activtiy based on the non-formal education and the needs of the local community - mostly schools. Stage 2 in Slovakia: The second stage built on what we started in stage one. It was about helping participants to develop their main ideas for their training. We wanted to help them refine these ideas into a final product. They learned how to handle different situations in youth work. We also highlighted the importance of looking back and reflecting on what we've learned. This gave participants the skills and knowledge they need for future non-formal education work. While having the background of the project tuned for communication and dialogue.