🚀Where Trainers Begin: INEDNET’s Journey in the “TRAIN, the Trainers Lab" Bran, Romania

From April 20 to 26, the welcoming setting of Bran became a meaningful learning space where aspiring trainers could safely explore, experiment, and grow into their roles. Ani Atoyan and Sergey Nersesyan, representing INEDNET NGO, joined 17 youth workers from six countries to take part in the “TRAIN, the Trainers Lab” training course in Romania. Organised by Friends of Romanian Children, the training created a safe and supportive environment where youth leaders could strengthen their core competencies and confidently step into the world of facilitation.

During the project, participants took part in various interactive workshops, learning-by-doing sessions, group facilitation exercises, simulations, reflection groups, and peer feedback sessions. Throughout the training, trainers Ana Georgescu and Tina Serban created a safe and supportive environment for all participants to actively practise trainer roles and experiment with nonformal education methods.

Firstly, they explored the basics of trainings and facilitation. They played with their bodies to create living statues that represented key concepts of the training, such as formal, nonformal, and informal education, as well as experiential education. The key takeaway of the second day was understanding learning processes, learning styles, and designing trainings in a way that is inclusive and welcoming for each learning style. A highlight was how many different learners a trainer can engage.

After studying the key roles trainers have and how they flexibly change based on group dynamics, participants divided into pairs to create their 30-minute trainings, using all the methods and tools they learned in the first days. The Armenian participants designed a training about mental health and its warning signs. After interactive trainings, they received constructive feedback and also took time to appreciate each other’s success.

A key insight of the training was the cultural evening, where everyone gathered with traditional food and sweets and exchanged interesting stories about how to make sweets and how similar they all are. Another warm moment was the free day to explore Bran Castle, Brașov, and the surrounding areas.

After such a warm and supportive space, it was really hard to say goodbye. Participants shared goodbyes and promised to continue working on becoming more empathetic trainers and creating more safe and supportive environments around them. In the end, the “TRAIN” remains a reminder of connection, learning, and the beauty of growing together even for a short time.