SBIM Training course in North Macedonia
People always give me strange looks when I tell them that instead of releasing some post-exam stress, I travelled to a small Macedonian town to participate in a training course.
To be fair, the weird looks are totally understandable. It is not a usual choice – but let me tell you why you should definitely choose a training course organised in a remote town over the comfort of your own room!
Everything starts with a spark – at least that is what they say. For me, the spark came when I first moved abroad at the age of 16. Ever since then, I have loved travelling and exploring new places – be it Italy, the Netherlands, or even North Macedonia. Travelling has shaped me.
That was me. On the other hand, there are many people – especially young people – who could not experience the same as I did. Most probably, the same thought also arose in the minds of the visionaries who came up with the concept of SBIM. SBIM stands for “Skip the Barriers of International Mobility”. The idea is that youth workers should be capable of providing accurate and understandable information about international opportunities while trying to mitigate every factor that might serve as a barrier to participation in mobility programmes. The training course between 6 and 9 November was part of this initiative.
During these few days, young people from seven different countries gathered to share their diverse perspectives and learn how to approach young people effectively. We first explored personal conflict management and active listening – both crucial skills in any youth community. Then we examined personal needs and unique life situations that might influence a young person’s participation or attitude. After that, the focus shifted from personal relationships to wider communities. We were introduced to a toolkit that included games, flashcards, info-packs, and much more. We evaluated the content, gave advice based on our own experiences, and even came up with brand-new elements for the toolkit. Finally, we put our persuasion skills into practice when we interacted with a group of incredibly bright-minded local students who were deeply interested in their communities at home, yet never afraid to look across the border for inspiration. This last point was central to the entire training: learning does not only happen through books and lectures, but also through conversation and travel.
The ERASMUS project embodies the same values. Learn through travelling; travel through learning. Every experience is unique. This experience could only have happened with young people from seven different countries in a small Macedonian town bordering Bulgaria, called Berovo.
Looking back, I am very happy that instead of choosing the comfort of my bed after an exhausting exam season, I chose not only to spend a few amazing days in another country, but also to learn how to help others skip the barriers of international mobility.
Written by: András Máté Mizera
