George Kouikoglou, Youth Worker from GREECE, Training Course
Erasmus+ KA153 Thinking and Sharing with Images for Intercultural and Mutual Understanding
The Erasmus project 'Travel around Thinking and Sharing with Images for Intercultural and Mutual Understanding' was a training course held in Budapest in February 2023. The project's goal was to use graphic facilitation techniques to improve the communication skills of youth workers and young people from various cultural backgrounds. Graphic facilitation is a technique for visually representing ideas, concepts, and processes using images, symbols, and diagrams. It can aid in the development of a common language, the promotion of dialogue and collaboration, and the improvement of learning outcomes. We learned the fundamentals of graphic facilitation, such as how to use various tools and materials, how to structure a visual story, how to adapt to different audiences and contexts, and how to use images to facilitate group discussions.
Erasmus+, the European Union education, training, youth, and sport program, provided funding for the project. Erasmus+ funds projects that promote mobility, cooperation, and innovation among European individuals and organizations. Egyesek Youth Association (Hungary) coordinated the project, a non-governmental organization that works to empower young people through non-formal education methods.
Although there was an emphasis on hand drawing, I believe it would have been beneficial to try digital drawing and graphic software as well. Personally, I have never been particularly good at hand drawing, but I believe this course helped me improve a little. Gyongyos was a small village with not much to do, but the forest surrounding it was stunning. Gyongyos was close to Budapest, so most of us had the opportunity to see the city while arriving or departing. The interactions between the Greek and Turkish teams were particularly interesting, demonstrating how Erasmus can help bridge differences and promote peace in the region.
Overall, I met some very interesting people as well as some very talented artists, and I can say that this was a very enriching experience.
George K