ERASMUS+, Key action 1: training course (professional development event)
Timeline of this training course:
- Pre-project meeting – online, May 10, 2025,
- Training course: May 24—June 1, 2025
- Organizing local activities in the Czech Republic
Venue: Ommen, Netherlands
Czech team: 7 participants
Please read the info-pack.
Hosting organisation: Stichting ImpACT
Project report:
Seven of us from the Czech Republic headed to Ommen, a lovely small town in the Netherlands, to take part in a one-week Erasmus+ training course all about leadership and peer-to-peer learning. Together with other participants from Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria, Latvia, and the Netherlands, we formed a diverse, international group that learned and grew together in ways none of us fully expected!
This project was built around the idea of peer-to-peer learning, which means the experience wasn’t just about one expert talking while everyone else listened — we all shared our ideas, perspectives and stories. That’s what Erasmus+ is really about: learning in a non-formal, hands-on way and discovering how powerful that can be..
Spoiler: it really is!!
Throughout the week, we went through a wide mix of exercises and games, mostly focused on our personal growth and leadership development. We worked on communication, trust, authenticity, teamwork and what it means to be a leader — not just for others, but for ourselves as well. Every day included five workshops (yes, it was intense!), usually two in the morning, two in the afternoon and one in the evening. In between, we had coffee breaks or meals — which deserve a special mention, because they were honestly some of the best meals ever. A team of international volunteers cooked for us, and they absolutely nailed it! :))
Some of the most memorable activities were the outdoor ones — despite the classic Dutch weather (ofc it rained). But even the rain couldn’t stop us. We played energetic team games like gumizela, the “balls factory” focused on teamwork, or a memory game using LEGO. These activities taught us more than you’d think — one key lesson I took away was this: we can’t always control what others do, but we CAN control how we react to it!! This mindset helped me a lot, not just during the project, but in life beyond it too.
Another unforgettable moment was the “play fight” activity — basically a kind of floor-based movement game that helped us connect with each other on a deeper, almost emotional level. It might sound odd, but it was surprisingly meaningful. It’s hard to put into words, but in those moments, I felt a kind of connection with others that reminded me what really matters in life: being present, open, and authentic..
We also had one free evening, and it turned out to be one of the best ones.. We played football, sang, danced, lay under the stars, talked and laughed.. It felt like we weren’t just a group of participants anymore — we were a real community! (and we still ARE:)
Looking back, I truly believe these kinds of projects are about the people. Yes, the program and content matter, but it’s the connections, the conversations, and the shared moments that make it unforgettable. And this time, I got really lucky — the group was incredible.
I’m so grateful I got to be part of this experience. I learned more about leadership, different cultures, and even picked up a few words in other languages (and yes — some iconic Italian gestures too!). But most importantly, I learned a lot about myself — how I handle new situations, how I grow when I step outside of my comfort zone and how powerful these kinds of experiences can be..
It was one unforgettable week with amazing people and fantastic facilitators. Fingers crossed I get to return to Ommen eventually — and maybe inspire someone else the way I was inspired here:))
Ema J.
