Erasmus+, Key action 1: training course
Dates: 14—22 April 2026
Venue: Dobrinishte, Bulgaria
Czech team: 2 participants – youth workers
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Via Civic Association
Project report:
This April, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the town of Dobrinishte, Bulgaria, for the training course “Connecting the D.O.T.S.”. I was curious to see how community-building processes could be facilitated through experiential learning and nature-based approaches.
The program, organized by the Via Civic team, followed a well-structured journey: Discover, Open, Trust, and Sustain. We engaged in insightful indoor modules like improvisation and storytelling with Zlatin Tsvetkov, which taught us about empathy and the “culture of mistake”. A very special and refreshing part of the program was the connection with nature and the warm hospitality of the local people in Dobrinishte.
There is something about being out in the fresh air and engaging in community missions that breaks down walls between people much faster than any indoor activity. Simply being in the mountains and stepping out of our comfort zones together taught us the true value of cooperation and authentic connection. These moments helped us understand what “community” really looks like in practice.
This experience showed me that youth work is not about lecturing, but about facilitating a space where everyone feels they belong. I am returning home with a backpack full of inspiration, a fresh perspective on group dynamics, and new tools that I am eager to use in my future work with people. A massive thanks to the organizers (Atanas, Deiana, Zlatin, and Vaya) and fellow adventurers for an unforgettable week of growth!
Ha My D.
