Active participation at the nonformal education lab

The Romanian Agency for the Youth in Action Program organized the nonformal education lab at Gura Portitei, in Romania. SMART Method of Public Policy was one of the 14+ methods that were tested. During one day, I made 5 theoretical presentations for the 45 participants, followed by two sessions of practical training. As a result, the young people who expressed a deeper interest in the method published three problems of Romanian public concern, along with one or two solutions:

1. The personnel from the foster care placement centers: many times, the personnel is poorly trained; this is affecting the children who often end up begging on the streets, instead of living a responsible and independent life.
2. The nonformal education in schools: schools in Romania do not have spaces

   

   adjusted for nonformal education that stimulate the creativity of young pupils.

3. Clean Cincis: Cincis is a lake nearby Hunedoara that is usually very polluted.

Any person can now offer solutions to these three problems on www.PoliticiPublice.ro. Publishing problems and solutions means making the first two steps in the framework of SMART Method of Public Policy. In step 3, we issue a policy paper to decision makers to solve the problems using the solution/s given by citizens. Step 4 means that an official answer is received from the authorities and step 5 means that the problem poster is satisfied with the answer or action of the public institutions.

But the nonformal education lab was also a nice place to socialize. Gura Portitei is an interesting wild place surrounded by the salty waters of the Black Sea on one side and the sweet inland waters. You can reach the place only by boat.

Arrival in Gura Portitei:

Some social activities on lipovean traditions next to a camp fire does not hurt:

Departure, with all the participants: