Yes, and… Go! | Training Course

What? Zarika Association is excited to invite you to an immersive Erasmus+ training course: "Yes, and... Go! Entrepreneurial Resilience Through Improv." This project is designed for youth workers, trainers, facilitators, educators, and anyone working with young people who want to explore entrepreneurship in a more practical, creative, and human way. For us, entrepreneurship is not about business creation or financial models. It is a mindset. It is about having the confidence to take initiative, navigate uncertainty, communicate your ideas clearly, collaborate effectively with others, learn from failure, and turn creative ideas into tangible actions. The main methodology of this training is improvisational theater. Through active "learning by doing"—including games, scenes, storytelling, role-play, and group challenges—you will practice active listening, reacting to the unexpected, taking creative risks, accepting…

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Open Call for ESC Volunteering: Find YOUR Place, Connect, and Contribute with PIRINvolve in Bansko, Bulgaria!

Are you ready to turn your ideas into action, build real-life skills, and make a meaningful difference? Zarika Association is thrilled to announce the open call for PIRINvolve, a 5-month European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering project. We are looking for four passionate young people to join our team in the beautiful mountain town of Bansko, Bulgaria, from November 3rd, 2026, to April 2nd, 2027 (151 days of project activity + 2 travel days). Before reading further, you can check out the Full PIRINvolve Infopack for a complete overview of the project, accommodation, and activities! About the PIRINvolve Project At Zarika, we believe in a world with less apathy and more empathy. Our mission is to create spaces where young people discover their potential, connect with inspiring peers,…

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Connect and Flow: Exploring Connection Through Acro Yoga and Theater Improvisation

In June 2026, youth workers, educators, and facilitators from different countries came together in Croatia for the Erasmus+ training course "Connect and Flow" or Co-Flow, an experiential learning journey exploring how movement, creativity, trust, and collaboration can strengthen personal development and youth work practice. The training course combined two powerful methodologies: Acro Yoga and Theater Improvisation. While Acro Yoga invited participants to build trust, communication, and body awareness through partner-based movement, Theater Improvisation offered tools for spontaneity, creativity, active listening, adaptability, and co-creation. Together, these approaches created a unique learning environment where participants could step outside their comfort zones, embrace uncertainty, and discover new ways of connecting with themselves and others. Zarika Association was proud to be a partner organization and send four amazing participants to this…

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The Project is Over: A Practical Guide on How to Beat the Post-Erasmus+ Blues

You come back home after an Erasmus+ mobility and everything feels slightly strange. A week ago, you were surrounded by people from different countries, sharing meals, ideas, inside jokes, emotional reflections, late-night conversations, energizers, workshops, cultural evenings and plans to change the world. Now you are back in your usual routine, your suitcase is half-unpacked, your group chat is still active but less chaotic, and somehow ordinary life feels a little too quiet. This feeling is real. Many participants experience what we can call the “post-Erasmus+ blues”: the emotional drop after an intense international experience. It can feel like sadness, nostalgia, lack of motivation, disconnection, or even confusion about what to do next. The good news? This feeling does not mean the project is over. In many…

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LARP is FUN

From Curiosity to Adventure Before joining the training course “LARP essentials for youth work”, our experience with LARP was almost… nonexistent. Which, honestly, feels like a missed opportunity. Coming from Bulgaria — where LARP communities and fantasy events are quite popular — we had somehow never truly stepped into this world ourselves. That changed completely in Madeira, Portugal — a place that truly looks and feels magical, perfect for setting the mood for any adventure. What Is LARP, Really? LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing. Unlike board games or video games, LARP requires participants to physically step into a role and interact with others within a fictional scenario. It means placing yourself in unfamiliar situations, embodying a different character, and navigating conflicts — whether with the…

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European Digital Citizenship Education Week 2025

Zarika Association is proud to partner with the European Digital Citizenship Education Week 2025 (EDCE Week 2025), a flagship initiative co-organized by PRISMA European Network and GEYC to mark the European Year of Digital Citizenship Education. EDCE Week will mobilize stakeholders across Europe for a week-long campaign (September 15–21, 2025) dedicated to promoting digital literacy, democratic engagement, and responsible online participation. What is EDCE Week? EDCE Week is an annual pan-European campaign that brings together youth, educators, civic actors, and policymakers to explore the complexities and promises of digital citizenship. Through online, offline, and hybrid workshops, panels, awareness campaigns, and collaborative events, EDCE Week champions digital rights, media literacy, democratic values, and inclusive participation in online spaces. 2025 is a milestone year 2025 has been officially designated as…

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Escape for Change – SDG-themed educational escape rooms

What are educational escape rooms? The methodology behind educational escape rooms is rooted in experiential learning and game-based education. At its core, it uses the structure of a traditional escape room - puzzles, time pressure, teamwork - but integrates real-life challenges and knowledge connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Instead of solving abstract riddles, participants engage with tasks that reflect actual global issues, like food insecurity or unsustainable consumer habits. The goal isn’t just to “escape,” but to reflect, discuss, and learn through doing. What makes this method powerful is that it activates both the logical and emotional sides of learning. Teams must collaborate, think critically, and apply knowledge to solve each step of the game, while also being immersed in a scenario that makes the…

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Exploring youth work realities in Slovenia: Highlights from our recent study visit to youth centers

From June 16 to 18, 2025, Zarika Association took part in a three-day study visit in Slovenia, co-funded by the European Union and hosted by our longtime partner organization Aspira. Along with colleagues from six other NGOs and youth centers based in Poland, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria, we explored five inspiring youth centers across Slovenia: Youth Center Trbovlje, Youth Center Žalec, Youth Center Celje, Lojtra Association, and Youth Center Zagorje. Each visit was marked by the warmth, authenticity, and generosity of the youth workers, project managers, and directors who hosted us. Their willingness to share openly about their operational structures, current struggles, and proud achievements allowed for honest and meaningful exchanges. For example, we had a lovely discussion on what "safe space" means in the…

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One Last Quest | An educational quest experience

This quest-based learning experience is designed to be easily adaptable to a wide range of settings, participant groups, venues, and thematic focuses. Whether used indoors or outdoors, with young people or adults, in educational, training, or team-building contexts, the structure of the quest can be customized to reflect the goals of a specific project or programme. Challenges, clues, and locations can be tailored to suit different learning outcomes, environments, or cultural references, making it a flexible tool for experiential learning, creative engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. One Last Quest is a flexible, story-driven activity that engages participants in teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving through playful, time-bound challenges. It offers youth workers and educators an adaptable method to create dynamic learning experiences that foster collaboration, communication, and reflection, while exploring…

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Brainstorming Brunch in Bansko, March 2025 edition

On March 7, 2025, we conducted the first Brainstorming Brunch of 2025. The Zarika team welcomed twelve volunteers from the Active Bulgarian Society organization in Blagoevgrad. Our guests were young people from all over Europe, highly motivated to discuss and explore ideas to solve the following challenge: "How might we empower one million young people to become sustainability ambassadors through non-formal education?" The brainstorming rules After great icebreakers aimed at stimulating our creativity, we started brainstorming in hyper-creative mode. A great icebreaker for creativity, and for breaking the ice between people who might not know each other well, is the improv game "I am a tree". For every brainstorming session, it is important to share the rules so everyone feels free to share their ideas. Here were…

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