ReConnection project - The 2nd Youth Weekend Workshop – APRIL 2026
Four weeks flew by since the March weekend workshop, and once again we found ourselves in the beautiful region of Gemer (SK). Just like the young participants, we as trainers, volunteers, and the whole team of TANDEM eagerly awaited the opportunity to continue creating meaningful experiences and spaces for growth and learning, where young people - stepping away from their disadvantaged social environments - could recharge and enrich themselves with new experiences.
We started Friday full of enthusiasm, and I can already reveal that we finished the weekend on Sunday with just as much energy and inspiration.
This weekend, not only the weather and nature reflected the true arrival of spring and warmer days - we did too. Together with the young participants, we were able to connect with one another, and with the events happening around and within us, in a much more open and blossoming way. This time, the venue was Chata Hámor in Kokava nad Rimavicou (SK), whose spacious yard and community spaces allowed the weekend’s activities and opportunities for connection to become even richer.
On Friday, we reflected on the previous weekend and everything that had happened since then, giving us the chance to truly arrive mentally and emotionally. Some participants joined us for the first time, and we warmly welcomed them, doing our best to involve them in the shared experiences and the life of the group. Already on the very first day, participants encountered playful yet challenging tasks, which became meaningful goals to work toward throughout the rest of the weekend.
While the trainers spent the evening coordinating and preparing for the following days, a huge group hide-and-seek game unfolded outside in the yard. I believe it made the first evening of arrival even more enjoyable and memorable for everyone.
On Saturday, we focused more specifically on professions, the world of work, and how young people relate to these topics and see themselves within them. Through playful group activities, we explored together what kinds of skills, attitudes, and qualities are needed in different jobs and roles.
Throughout the day, we worked with experiential, non-formal educational methods: interactive exercises, small-group discussions, and various situational tasks helped participants understand through their own experiences the importance of their decisions, attitudes, and perseverance in everyday life.
The life stories they encountered during the program were especially impactful. These stories created opportunities for identification and for discovering new perspectives. Some participants may have drawn strength and inspiration from them - encouragement to face their own paths and to find the inner resources needed to “surf” the waves of life more courageously.
During the shared activities, the young people had several opportunities to test themselves in different situations: they experienced what it means to take responsibility as part of a team, to think together, make decisions, and carry tasks through to completion. It became increasingly visible that they dared to speak up, ask questions, and actively participate in the process.
Not only the shared tasks, but also the more personal moments played an important role throughout the program. There was space for participants to get to know themselves better and to become more open toward one another. Encouraging feedback and shared games helped strengthen trust and gradually transform the group into a real community.
We would like to thank the young participants for the honesty, presence, and dedication they brought into the shared work. We are already looking forward to continuing the journey and to everything the next occasion will bring.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who contributed to making this weekend possible and successful!
The training was implemented with the support of the European Union.
More information about the related ReConnection project can be found by clicking here.
This article was written by Viktória Zsoldos.
