The main objective of the project was to encourage the transformation of adult education environment in a direction that more comprehensively supports the well-being of adults. We started from the belief that education and well-being are interrelated—learning is more effective when it takes place in a stimulating, inclusive, and emotionally safe space that enables the development of personal and social skills. Therefore, we developed a methodology that strengthens the sense of belonging, promotes positive emotions, safe interactios, and enables personal growth and self-development for adults. We have focused particularly on vulnerable target groups who often face isolation, low self-esteem, and motivational problems. The aim of the project was to encourage their participation and persistence in education and social life in general. By developing a competency framework, an escape room, a booklet of good practices, and a digital e-platform, we wanted to offer concrete, modern, and user-friendly tools for implementing programs that systematically incorporate care for happiness and well-being. In this way, we have contributed to the development of advanced learning environments and the improvement of the quality of adult education.
We submitted the project because we have identified growing challenges in the areas of mental health, stress, lack of inner satisfaction, and declining motivation to learn when working with adults. The pandemic, wars, and a rapidly changing society have further exacerbated the distress. They often face doubts about their abilities, feelings of alienation, and general dissatisfaction, which affects their participation in educational programs—which often remain insufficiently responsive to their psychosocial needs. Traditional forms of education often do not involve the active participation of the learner and don't address their emotional world. We developed the project with a vision of bringing back smiles and a sense of meaning in these times. We wanted to create accessible tools that would promote emotional literacy, self-reflection, critical thinking, and a sense of belonging. We developed an innovative methodology and an attractive tool—an escape room from dissatisfaction—that addresses adults in an experiential and engaging way. The aim of the project was to train educators to create a learning environment that, in addition to transferring knowledge, also contributes to greater satisfaction and well-being among participants.