Map and Compass – TC
Outward Round Romania owns the Erasmus+ Accreditation in the field of Youth since 2020. We created an action plan for the period 2021-2027 for the following target groups: disadvantaged and mainstream young persons, youth workers and youth NGOs.
During the 7 years we are going to:
· create a strong local and international network of youth NGOs in order to share best practices and working methods.
· develop the soft and hard skills of the youth workers, enlarge their toolkits and theoretical/practical knowledge about working with groups using non-formal methods
· develop the key competences, raise the awareness of the young persons about environmental sustainability and contribute to their inclusion
During the sixth year we implemented the following Mobilities in order to contribute to the set objectives
1. Map and Compass: 22.06-05.07.2026
2. Roots of Resilience: 24.08.-05.09.202
3. The thread that connects: 21.09.-02.10.2026
4. Paths to potential: 12-23.10.2026
5. Skills 4 Life: 18-29.01.2027
All the Mobilities are co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union
Period: 22.06.-05.07.2026.
Location: Sovata – Outward Bound Romania Youth Center, Gurghiului Mountains
Participants: 18 participants
Participating countries: Hungary, Greece, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Romania
Partner organizations:
- Creative Youth Academy – HU
- Roes Cooperativa – GR
- Tavo Europa – LV
- L’Alzina – SP
- Novo Mundo – PT
- European Youth Center Breclav – CZ
- Outward Bound Romania – RO
Info letter: Info letter – Map and Compass TC.pdf
Our main goal:
The aim of the program is to strengthen youth workers’ communication, empathy, and emotional resilience by integrating Non-Violent Communication (NVC) with Outdoor Experiential Education, enabling them to build more compassionate, effective, and inclusive youth programs.
Specific objectives of the project were:
- Develop core NVC competences (observation – feelings – needs – requests) for real youth work contexts
- Experience NVC as a practical tool for cooperation, conflict transformation, and group management
- Listen beyond words using the 4 Levels of listening, empathy models and perspective-taking
- Strengthen emotional resilience and self-empathy through both theory and lived experience
- Develop skills for supporting youth in creating authentic, assertive, and compassionate communication styles
The elements of the program:
get to know each-other activities, team building activities with purposely appropriate stressful frames, supported and self-organizing expedition, orienteering, leading the group, decision making processes, activities focused on Non-Violent Communication (NVC) and group collaboration, connection with nature, solution focused problem-solving activities, sleeping and cooking outdoors, learning through experience, climbing activities in the ropes course, nature-based activities, individual challenges, interactive workshops, debriefing, reflection process, closing activities
Results of the projects:
Participants strengthened their self-awareness, communication, and emotional resilience, while improving cooperation and relationship-building skills. They gained practical tools and methods for youth work (including NVC and experiential approaches), build confidence in facilitating workshops, and connect with a supportive European network. A booklet was created to serve as a short introduction to NVC, and also as a toolbox of activities used during the programme and developed by the participants.
Feedback of the participants:
“If someone would have tell me that this kind of projects are happening in Romania, it would have been hard for me to believe. It was a lot more than I expected, I appreciate the professionalism and compassion of the trainers and the assistants, I am grateful for the responsibilities we had and all the experiential learning, beautiful people, beautiful nature, willing to connect and contribute. Thank you lots!”
“Everything was perfectly organised, the activities, the flow of knowledge transfer, the wonderful trainers, the infrastructure and food. More than I could ask!”
“ I found the organisation and the timing of the activities really well suited. I felt that the space you created was safe and secure to explore and express my needs and opinions and I’m grateful for that.”
“My expectations from this course were to get familiar with OBR approach to experiential learning. My expectations were exceeded by a lot. I learned many things here – teamwork, socialising, leadership, trust, my own personal challenges. I was familiar with NVC before the course, but here it finally stuck and I understood it on much deeper level.”
“Overall, this project was a meaningful and transformative experience. It not only enhanced my practical skills but also influenced my mindset and approach to teamwork, communication, and personal development. I leave this course feeling more prepared, motivated, and inspired to apply what I have learned in both my professional and personal life.”
Photos and videos about the program:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1341550914023703
https://www.facebook.com/reel/37067060916272890
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1468050978700883&set=pcb.1468057182033596
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122119768226816911&set=pcb.122119768940816911
Booklet:
