Representatives of NGO “Mladiinfo Montenegro” participated in a study visit to Fuglebjerg in Denmark, which was held from June 14 to June 22, 2019.
This study visit under the K2 Erasmus + project entitled “Improving the quality of activities related to youth from rural areas” (funded by the Council of Europe) gathered 22 participants representing partner organizations from 14 to 22 June 2019: YOUTH WORKERS ALLIANCE (coordinating organization of the project) from Serbia, NEXT GENERATION from Northern Macedonia, Mladiinfo Montenegro from Montenegro, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT from Greece, OAPA from Kosovo and DRAFT CPH from Denmark.
The Montenegrin team consisted of the following participants: Marta Nikolic – professor from the Central Economic and Catering School and students: Anđela Mudreša, Aldijana Hodžić and Damir Šukurica. During this eight-day study visit, we learned about the specificities of the Danish education system, which is considered one of the most successful in Europe. The concept of “free school” ie. “Efterskole” in Danish, was introduced in the mid-19th century after the democratization of the entire society, but the most deserving individual is the reformer of the educational system, theologian, linguist and poet N.F.S Grundtvig (1783-1872). We were housed in such an internment type school in the village of Fuglebjerg, near Slagaelse and Naestved, and we visited a school in the center of Copenhagen where one teacher gave a very detailed presentation of the concept of such a school that follows the basic one. According to their understanding, teaching or teaching is defined as sharing teacher’s passion for a particular subject with students. They believe in the drug relationship of students and professors who are especially well-built with a joint stay in the same institution during the entire school year. The school curriculum varies from school to school, and in its development, the Parent’s Council involves the most and the students themselves, drawing on what they want to learn. Teachers often do not have formal qualifications for their educational work, but only in the area of expertise in the field will encourage students to successfully master the material. This school, which usually has 100-120 pupils, lasts just one year and precedes its basic one from six to 16 years of age.
The Dansk-India NGO also visited Copenhagen, which is actively involved in improving the social status and position of women in India. The representative of the present organization has been very familiar with the problems and laws of the society there, as well as the volunteer activities that influence the awareness among the domicile population of the status of a woman in a society that is very degrading.
In a direct discussion with the local population, the participants had the opportunity to hear their views on the position of rural youth. They claim that children from urban areas have more opportunities when it comes to social interaction, but life in the city is inaccessible to many because of the cost and public transport is really great and the possibility of an “efterskole” that involves moving to another environment is used by 25 percent of the youth.
The facilitators of the internal sessions and the organizers of this event were Gjoko Grdanovski and Martina Stambolec from Northern Macedonia. On the first working day of June 15, he was dedicated to various activities that contribute to the team spirit building, because the participants expected a whole week of joint work. By taking advantage of the non-formal learning and interactive methods, the participants have successfully performed even an activity called “The Impossible Mission”. Work in national teams was followed on the strategies of each country (on the subject of the project itself). In the following days, the facilitators presented everything that involves the creation of the Erasmus + project, the options within that program, the way of making, allocating funds, realization, etc., and the participants were finally divided into groups, ie, the themes of their potential projects have compiled a detailed elaboration of their ideas about projects that maybe at the next competition will devote the funds for realization and gather this kind of creative team of people. It should be emphasized that the average years of the participants were 26, and it does not surprise such a flight and enthusiasm.
The last working day was reserved for the evaluation of this event, which took place through several interesting multimedia activities. The most striking is the so-called. pizza evaluation (most ratings for the given areas are at the center of the pizza and the weakest on the perimeter).
Whatever activity you are dealing with, such exchanges of experience, ideas, plans for further work contribute to the quality of work and the general well-being for society.
