Erasmus+, Key action 1: training course
Dates: 22—30 January 2026
Venue: Cornus, France
Czech team: 5 participants
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Du Grain A Moudre
Project report:
From 22 to 30 January, 25 participants from across Europe and beyond gathered in a rural area of southern France near the village of Cornus. The group brought together people from Estonia, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Malta, Italy, France, Portugal, the USA, Ukraine, and India, creating a diverse and inspiring international environment. Throughout the week, participants engaged in meaningful discussions focused on narratives and critical geopolitics.
After arrival, the group spent time getting to know each other through ice-breaking activities and community-building games, while also setting shared rules for living together. From the very first afternoon, the facilitators Marie and Damian led a rich programme of activities connected to the course topic. These included fishbowl debates, writing workshops, human timelines, case study projects, knowledge-based games, and interactive simulations, including a stock exchange game that added a competitive element.
The core aim of the course was not only to develop participants’ understanding of geopolitics, critical thinking, bias, power relations, and geostrategy, but also to create space for open discussion and the exchange of perspectives on current global issues. Activities alternated between small group work and whole-group sessions, allowing participants to connect deeply with one another and learn from different viewpoints.
The accommodation was located in a beautiful countryside setting. Although the weather remained cloudy throughout the week, the atmosphere within the group was warm and welcoming. On the third evening, participants organised an intercultural night, sharing food and drinks from their home countries. Highlights included Brazilian Amazonian spirits, French cheese and wine, Czech sweets, and Estonian white chocolate, which many agreed deserved UNESCO heritage status.
Day four included a partial free day, which participants used for hiking or visiting nearby castles and local sights. Throughout the week, everyone also enjoyed excellent meals prepared from local ingredients.
On the final day, the group revealed the results of the “secret friend” game that had been running all week, followed by a final reflection session and the exchange of personal messages written for one another. The emotional farewell, including a few tears, was clear evidence of how strongly the group had bonded and how successfully the participants had coexisted as a community during the week in the French countryside. Some participants spent their last evening together in Montpellier before returning home by plane or bus.
Overall, the training course was a highly valuable experience that participants can draw on in their future personal and professional lives. New skills were gained, perspectives broadened, and lasting friendships formed — all made possible thanks to the excellent organisation by Grain à Moudre.
Jakub K.
