Training course: Acting for Change
Name of the project: Training Course “Acting for Change” Dates of Project: 24.02.2026. – 05.03.2026. Sending organization: “BRAVO” Hosting organization: “ADA” Places: Simon (Bran), Romania Participants age: 18 + The number of participants: 2 Working language: English Deadline for applying: 19.01.2026.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
“ACTING FOR CHANGE: theatre and film as tools for rural youth work” is an international Erasmus+ training course for youth workers, designed to strengthen the capacity of professionals working with young people from rural areas to use theatre and film as non-formal education tools for participation, inclusion, self-expression, and community engagement.
The training will bring together 30 youth workers who are actively involved in youth work in rural or semi-rural contexts and are interested in developing creative, participatory, and inclusive approaches in their daily practice. Throughout the 8-day training course, participants will explore how theatre and cinema can be meaningfully integrated into youth work as tools to:
• create safe and inclusive learning spaces for young people,
• encourage self-expression, emotional awareness, and confidence,
• support youth participation and active citizenship,
• address sensitive topics and lived realities in rural communities,
• amplify young people’s voices through storytelling and visual narratives.
The programme is strongly based on experiential learning, combining practical artistic exercises, non-formal education methods, group reflection, and peer learning. Participants will not be trained as actors or filmmakers, but as youth workers and facilitators who can adapt theatre and film methods to low-resource rural settings and use them intentionally to respond to the needs of young people in their communities. A strong emphasis is placed on reflection, ethical facilitation, inclusion, and the transfer of learning into participants’ local youth work practice.
The training course will take place in Șimon, Bran (Brașov County), Romania, between 24 February and 5 March 2026 (24 February – arrival day, 5 March – departure day). It is organised within the project “From Rural to Plural 3.0”, reference no. 2025-1-RO01-KA151-YOU-000300668, and implemented under the framework of the Active Development Association’s Erasmus+ Accreditation for mobilities in the field of youth, Accreditation no. 2022-1-RO01-KA150-YOU-000110433. The project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of “ACTING FOR CHANGE: Theatre and film as tools for rural youth work” is to strengthen the competences of youth workers to intentionally use theatre and film methods in their daily youth work practice, to foster participation, inclusion, self-expression, and community engagement among young people living in rural areas.
Through this training course, we aim to:
- Increase youth workers’ understanding of theatre and film as non-formal education tools, and their relevance for youth work in rural contexts, beyond artistic performance.
- Equip participants with practical, accessible theatre and cinema methods that can be adapted to low-resource rural settings and different groups of young people.
- Strengthen youth workers’ facilitation skills, with a focus on creating safe, inclusive, and participatory learning environments through creative processes.
- Support youth workers in addressing sensitive topics (such as identity, emotions, belonging, and social challenges) using indirect, ethical, and youth-friendly artistic approaches.
- Enhance participants’ ability to encourage youth participation and active citizenship by using storytelling and visual narratives to amplify young people’s voices at the local level.
- Develop participants’ awareness of group dynamics, power relations, and inclusion, and how theatre and film methods can be used to reduce barriers to participation for young people in rural communities.
- Foster peer learning and exchange of practices between youth workers from different countries, building a shared understanding of rural youth work challenges and solutions.
- Support the transfer of learning into local practice by guiding participants to reflect on their role as facilitators and develop concrete follow-up actions to be implemented in their communities after the training.
PARTICIPANT PROFILE
The training course is designed for youth workers and other professionals actively involved in the youth sector, particularly those working with young people from rural areas. The programme is suitable for participants with different levels of experience, from those who are at the beginning of their youth work journey to those with more experience who wish to explore new creative approaches.
Participants should be 18 years old or above and actively involved in youth work through non-governmental organisations, informal groups, or community initiatives, especially in rural or semi-rural contexts.
The training is addressed to youth workers, youth leaders and peer educators, community organisers, project managers and coordinators working with young people, volunteer coordinators, and active volunteers who are directly involved in youth activities and who wish to further develop their competencies in youth work.
Participants should be motivated to strengthen their capacity to work effectively with rural youth through non-formal education, creative facilitation, and youth-led processes, using theatre and film as practical tools for participation, expression, and inclusion.
Participants are expected to:
• be motivated to explore creative and participatory methods in youth work,
• be open to hands-on, experiential learning and group work,
• actively contribute to the learning process and group dynamics,
• attend the entire duration of the training course (24 February – 5 March 2026),
• be willing to transfer the learning outcomes into their local youth work practice and contribute to follow-up activities,
• have a working knowledge of English, as the training will be conducted in English.
Participants must be active members, collaborators, or regular volunteers of their sending organisations. Each partner organisation will be represented by two participants.
ACCOMMODATION, FOOD & TRAVEL
- Participants will stay at Pensiunea Mama Cozonacilor, located in Șimon village (Bran), a quiet rural area surrounded by mountains and nature. The location is approximately 5 km from Bran Castle and offers a calm and comfortable environment, suitable for learning, reflection, and group activities.
- Accommodation will be provided in shared rooms for 2 or 3 participants, depending on availability. Room layouts may vary and include:
• rooms with one shared (matrimonial) bed,
• rooms with one shared (matrimonial) bed and one single bed,
• rooms with one shared (matrimonial) bed and two single beds. - Participants will be provided with three meals per day: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Meals are served buffet-style, offering a variety of options, including vegetarian and vegan dishes.
- All the instructions on how to arrive at the venue will be sent by email.
- Travel costs will be reimbursed