Study Lab
emotional intelligence, stress & learning skills for youth workers
a 7-day Erasmus+ training course in the Tatra mountains, building youth workers' emotional intelligence, stress-management and learning-strategy skills through yoga, workshops and strengths coaching.
overview
- emotional intelligence, stress management, mindfulness and learning strategies for people who work with young people every day
- daily yoga, breathwork and meditation sessions built into the schedule alongside the workshop programme
- a strengths test and peer feedback to help each youth worker identify — and start using — their own talents
- intercultural evenings and Tatra-mountain hikes that turn seven countries' worth of strangers into a working network
about this project
Study Lab brought together 37 youth workers, educators and NGO volunteers from Poland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Turkey and the Czech Republic for ten days (two of them travel days) in Murzasichle, a highlander village at the foot of the Tatra mountains. It was hosted by Furora Foundation, a Warsaw-based youth organisation, with Wild Geese as one of six partner organisations sending participants.
The course answered a problem most youth workers recognise: they're expected to help young people manage stress, emotions and motivation, but were rarely taught how to do it themselves. Over a week of non-formal workshops, participants worked on their own emotional intelligence and stress management before turning those tools outward into their work with young people.
what happens
yoga & mindfulness
daily yoga sessions in different styles, plus breathing techniques and meditation, to reduce stress and build focus.
emotions, stress & learning strategies
workshops on emotional intelligence, time and energy planning, and effective learning methods participants could take straight back to their own youth work.
strengths & personal development
a strengths test, reflection exercises and peer feedback to help each participant identify their talents and plan how to use them.
intercultural evenings & excursions
themed cultural nights with food, music and dance from each partner country, plus hikes and team-building in the Tatra mountains — including a trip to the glacial lake Morskie Oko.
who's involved
participants: 37 youth workers and educators (5 per country), aged 22–38
countries: Poland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Turkey, Czech Republic
partner organisations:
- Furora Foundation (Poland, host)
- Kultur & Art Initiative eV (Germany)
- European Mission (Hungary)
- Better Future Lab (Slovakia)
- Global Mind APS (Italy)
- Karaman International Group (Turkey)
- Wild Geese z.s. (Czech Republic)
accommodation
Participants shared mixed-nationality rooms for 2–5 people (all with private bathrooms) at a lodge in Murzasichle, with a swimming pool, ping-pong table and common areas for evenings, and three meals a day provided on site.
travel & funding
this project's costs are covered by Erasmus+, including travel, accommodation, food, Youthpass certificate.
| country | travel budget |
|---|---|
| Poland (green travel) | 56 EUR |
| Germany (green travel) | 417 EUR |
| Hungary (green travel) | 285 EUR |
| Slovakia (green travel) | 285 EUR |
| Italy | 309 EUR |
| Turkey | 309 EUR |
| Czechia (green travel) | 285 EUR |
This training course was preceded by a 4-day Advance Planning Visit (2–5 October 2025) for 14 delegates — two per partner country, including Wild Geese — to shape the final programme together. Prep-visit travel was reimbursed only for delegates who went on to attend the main course.
fancy the next flight?
Places are allocated through Wild Geese as the Czech partner organisation for the next Study Lab intake.