Argonauta participated in the national TCA training in Split “Think big, start small”..
From October 8 to 11, the national TCA training “Think Big, Start Small” was held in Split, bringing together representatives of organizations working with young people. The event provided them with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in organizing mobility projects. “As a panelist at this training, representing the Argonaut Association, I had the chance to share our perspective on the advantages of Erasmus+ accreditation, the importance of aligning the needs of the local community with those of young people, and innovative approaches in environmental education”. – said Ivona Jadrić, Development Director of the Argonaut Association.
Our association, Argonauta, uses Erasmus+ accreditation as a tool for continuous improvement and the expansion of programs that connect young people with local communities through the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and innovative approaches. During the panel, I emphasized how Erasmus+ accreditation provides structured support for our long-term projects, enabling our goals to evolve in line with the changing needs of both youth and the communities we aim to serve. This support strengthens our work in the field of ecology, which is at the heart of Argonaut’s mission, allowing young people not only to contribute to their communities but also to develop a personal sense of responsibility toward the environment.
In the discussion, I highlighted the importance of aligning the needs of the local community with the interests of young people in order to create programs that are both authentic and tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities that each community offers. Through our projects, we’ve seen that young people often want to make positive changes in their local communities but frequently lack the opportunities and guidance to do so. Erasmus+ projects help us by introducing methodologies that recognize these interests and translate them into structured activities – whether through workshops, volunteer actions, or public campaigns.
On the panel, I also focused on the importance of innovation in transforming traditional methods of teaching environmental topics into practices that are both engaging and interactive for young people. For example, instead of giving a traditional lecture on the importance of environmental protection, we use a “learning by doing” approach, involving young people in hands-on activities such as cleaning up waste from the sea, creating educational materials, or launching eco-initiatives in the local community. In this way, young people not only learn about crucial environmental issues but also develop skills that will help them become active citizens and future agents of change.
Participating in such trainings provides an invaluable opportunity to exchange experiences and network with other organizations, which further enhances the quality of our projects. I believe that the knowledge and insights gained from this training will help Argonauta continue developing projects that not only meet the needs of young people but also create long-term positive change in the community.
