Life is a Game - This is what our 2025 Experience Conference was like!
Two weeks have passed since the final game came to an end, the main hall fell silent, and the doors of the conference center closed behind us. The Experience Conference officially concluded.
Yet there are events after which returning to everyday life in the same way is simply not possible. This was one of them. And that is precisely why we organized it — and why you came. Not because everything changes, but because something within us shifts, just a little. We return to the same life with newly framed questions, subtly shifted emphases, and a more conscious presence.
The first day of the conference began with smiles, cheerful greetings, and friendly exchanges. From the very first moments, it was clear that this was not a traditional conference scenario. We were happy to see familiar faces again and welcomed first-time participants with equal enthusiasm.
Participants were warmly greeted by Kriszta Molnár, Gábor Sikula, Béla Keszegh, and Péter Urbán, followed by an energizing vocal warm-up led by Liliána Kaszmán–Saróka, which brought the community to life and set the tone for the conference. In this atmosphere, the keynote lecture Dare to Be Afraid! – Resilience at Home and at School by Hesna Al Ghaoui began. Through personal stories, Hesna delivered a thought-provoking and profound talk on how fear can be transformed into a resource in our everyday lives.
As in previous years, multiple workshops ran in parallel, covering a wide variety of topics so that everyone could find something that resonated with them. In the first workshop block, Éva Gyarmathy explored the benefits of neurodiversity; with Erika Hanula, participants learned practical learning-methodology techniques; Márton Svékus introduced the mindset of leading beyond formal authority; while Andrea Lánczos opened space for reflection through the tools of group supervision.
In the afternoon’s second workshop block, Noémi Récsei led a conversation with Monika Veselá and Lucia Molnár Satinská about learning the Slovak language as Hungarians living in Slovakia. The topic was approached from multiple perspectives — educational and linguistic — and from different identity positions, offering the audience a rich and nuanced understanding of the relationship between language and identity.
Meanwhile, in neighboring rooms, Zoli Beck played card games with teachers, Csilla Szabó equipped participants with tools from drama pedagogy, and Liliána Kaszmán–Saróka addressed burnout through playful exercises. In connection with the bicentenary of writer Mór Jókai, participants were also invited to a thematic city walk led by Tímea Szabó Csekei.
The third workshop block once again offered something for every interest. In the Education Reform LIVE! living library, participants engaged in inspiring conversations with experts about the practical implementation of educational reforms. At the same time, Liliána Kaszmán–Saróka and Gábor Sikula presented play as a personal resource; Kriszta Molnár offered psychodramatic solutions to everyday challenges; while Juszti Bondor guided participants through the fascinating world of artificial intelligence in a playful and accessible way.
The first day concluded with the unforgettable Card Game by Zoli Beck and Miklós H. Vecsei. The played cards revealed secrets and songs that can only be preserved through attentive listening. It was a beautiful way to close the evening in such an intimate and deeply personal atmosphere.
The second day began with a similar sense of excitement, yet it was permeated by something new — something born from the shared experiences of the previous day. In familiar glances, the natural quality of silence, and the tone of conversations, it was evident that the thoughts and insights from the day before were still settling within everyone. Some had already acted on a piece of advice, while others were stirred by newly awakened curiosity. And yet — or perhaps precisely because of this — we dove into the day with the same momentum and thirst for knowledge.
After a brief welcome, the morning started with a musical meditation led by János Kiss. Once the vibrations of sound had permeated every cell, the long-awaited keynote by Feri Pál began. In his signature style — moving from chair to chair, perfectly following the arc of his thoughts — he spoke about the nature of our blockages, our inner mechanisms, and recurring patterns. And how did a glowing Snoopy poster fit into the conclusion? Only those who were there truly understand.
Following Feri Pál’s lecture, the bar was set high, but feedback quickly confirmed that every speaker rose to the challenge with ease. In the fourth workshop block, Dávid Szél discussed how to create meaningful presence in children’s lives, while with György Kulcsár, participants explored the gifts of autism. In parallel, Krisztina Gyöngyösi examined the relationship between learning and stress, offering practical solutions for everyday challenges, and István Rabec introduced the growth mindset approach.
After a rich morning, lunch was filled with lively, buzzing conversations as participants exchanged experiences. This collective energy carried us into the fifth workshop block. In the main hall, a roundtable discussion featuring Szilvia Gyurkó, Dávid Szél, and Gábor Nyers was moderated by József Gazdag, focusing on how smartphones are reshaping the nature of childhood. Elsewhere, Ági Sütöri introduced the world of the Street Training movement, Erika Hanula offered guidance for parents on supporting their children’s learning, Ágnes Brath brought a coaching perspective closer to institutional education, while Tímea Szabó Csekei once again led participants along the footsteps of writer Jókai.
In the sixth and final workshop block, participants attended the puppet theatre performance The Boy by the Vekker Műhely (Vekker Theatre In Education (TIE) Company); Szilvia Szabó offered an hour of relaxation and play; Anett Iván Zlatarits introduced nature-based stress-reduction techniques in her oasis; and Izabella Csordás presented a clearer vision for a conscious parenting future.
At the end of two meaningful days, the Experience Conference closed with farewell words from Kriszta Molnár, followed by one final game led by Csilla Szabó, centered around gratitude.
As participants stepped out of the conference center, everyone carried something with them: a new perspective, a thought, or an encounter that warmed the heart. This is why the Experience Conference perhaps never truly ends — because the connection with others, playfulness, and mindful attention continue to live on in our everyday lives.
Thank you for being with us and for playing with us. We trust that the shared laughter, powerful realizations, and newly gained experiences will continue to accompany you. We are already looking forward with excitement to meeting again next year, to continue the game and the journey of discovery we have begun.
Written by: Natália Szűcs
