From July 1st to 5th, 2025, Sarajevo welcomed educators, researchers, and facilitators from across Europe for the CPC Joint Staff Event No. 2 – Training with Learning Group Managers, held within the framework of the CPC (Conscious Parents in Crisis) project. This dynamic gathering brought together project partners, learning group managers (LGMs), and experts in refugee education to share practices, test learning tools, and engage in field-based training activities aimed at building educational resilience in uncertain times.
The second CPC Joint Staff Event in Sarajevo was a vibrant and multilayered program combining interactive workshops, field visits, and best-practice exchanges. The event served as both a training session for LGMs and an opportunity to pilot test the Learning Boosters and Energizer Toolkit, co-developed by project partners.
Key elements of the event included an exchange on best practices among Learning Group Managers (LGMs) and researchers, building on country-level insights and field data, as well as a workshop on learning communities for refugee and migrant families, which explored tailored approaches to support vulnerable learners. The program featured dynamic activities designed to simulate learning group environments and strengthen peer collaboration.
Participants also took part in hands-on training sessions such as Experiential Learning for Children in Crisis: A Field-Based Photography Model led by Özcan Yurdalan (Izmir Katip Çelebi University), Building Capacity in Unstable Contexts facilitated by Pırıl Erçoban (Association for Solidarity with Refugees), Sensory Play Activities for Primary School Children led by Patrícia Matias (Stairs and Levels), and Blackout Poetry as a Creative Educational Tool led by Rosa Santoro (Centro Atlas Onlus).
Participants had the opportunity to experience the educational tools hands-on, reflect on challenges, and adapt methodologies to local contexts. The Sarajevo gathering also featured enriching field activities, including a day trip to Mostar for a photography-based workshop, blending creativity with community storytelling. A team rafting trip in Konjic provided a chance to strengthen bonds, recharge, and reflect on the value of experiential learning in team development.
The CPC Joint Staff Meeting in Sarajevo was not just a technical training—it was a celebration of grassroots collaboration, educational innovation, and solidarity with marginalized communities. It marked a critical milestone in the CPC project’s journey toward developing sustainable, parent-led learning groups that offer educational continuity when public systems are disrupted.
As the project moves into its next phase, with local facilitators training parents directly, the outcomes of the Sarajevo meeting will serve as a strong foundation for impactful community-led education across Europe and beyond.
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT
The CPC project is designed to empower parents to establish and manage learning groups as flexible alternatives or complements to traditional public education—especially in contexts affected by social or environmental crises. These learning groups function as small, community-led educational spaces, drawing inspiration from examples like private school communities in Hungary or home-schooling networks in Germany and Portugal.
Through phases of research, training, and field testing, the project aims to develop a comprehensive methodology for Learning Group Management, covering essential themes such as inclusive education, digital learning tools, and emotional support for children in crisis. The final product will include a training manual and facilitator toolkit, enabling parents to deliver consistent and high-quality learning experiences.