🔑 Key Information
Activity ⭐️ Title
Wise Elders Village
Activity 🔶 Type | 📆 Dates | 📍Location
Training Course
5-13 October 2026 | Centola, Italy
🌍 Erasmus+ explained — the complete beginner's guide to Europe's largest youth programme.Millions of young people have taken part in Erasmus+ since its launch, but many still don't fully understand what the programme actually includes, who it's for, or how to get involved. This in-depth guide breaks down everything: the different types of mobility, funding opportunities, eligibility criteria, and what you can realistically expect from participating. If you've ever wondered whether Erasmus+ is right for you, this guide gives you all the answers in one place. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/15096/
❗️What Is This Training About?
Wise Elders Village helps youth workers reimagine communities as true villages through nature and rites of passage.
🏘️ How Erasmus+ youth projects create lasting change in local communities. The impact of Erasmus+ goes far beyond the individuals who participate. Local communities, host organisations, and even entire neighbourhoods are shaped by the projects that take place within them. This article explores the broader social impact of Erasmus+ youth exchanges — from building intercultural understanding to empowering grassroots organisations — and makes a compelling case for why these projects matter beyond the personal level. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/3595/
ℹ️ Description About The Opportunity
Wise Elders Village is an experiential Erasmus+ training course for youth workers who long to rediscover one of humanity’s oldest ways of accompanying growth: the village.
There was a time when every young person crossed life’s thresholds held by community, ceremony, and the wisdom of Elders. Today, many of these rites of passage have disappeared, leaving young people to navigate profound transitions alone. Wise Elders Village is an invitation to remember how communities can once again become places where belonging is cultivated, unique gifts are witnessed, and young people are supported in becoming fully human.
During seven days immersed in the wilderness of Southern Italy, participants will not simply learn new methodologies. They will experience from within a contemporary village inspired by rites of passage, discovering what it means to be held by community before learning how to hold others in return.
The training weaves together nature connection, the Way of Council, ceremony, symbolic work, embodiment, storytelling, silence, community practices, and a 24-hour solo threshold in nature, rooted in the contemporary tradition of rites of passage. Rather than transmitting techniques, the course invites participants to embody these practices so they may accompany young people with greater presence, discernment, and wisdom.
At the heart of the journey lies the question:
How can we become the villages our young people have been longing for?
By remembering the role of the Elder—not as someone who possesses answers, but as one who knows how to witness, listen deeply, hold community, and bless the unique path of each young person.
The experience culminates in a 24-hour solo threshold in nature, offering participants the opportunity to cross their own symbolic passage before returning to the village carrying the gifts discovered along the way.
Beyond the residential training, participants will engage in a preparation phase before arrival and will be invited to bring the learning back into their own communities through at least one local dissemination action, ensuring that the experience continues to ripple outward long after the training has ended.
GUIDES OF THE PROGRAM
Sandra Horea
Sandra is a human development guide and mentor who wholeheartedly invites people into intimate and meaningful conversations with their Soul. She creates spaces where nature, symbol, imagination, and deep listening become pathways toward remembering one’s unique gifts. Drawing from eco-depth psychology, soul-based practices, and years of experience accompanying transformative journeys, she supports people in becoming more fully themselves. She is a graduate of Bill Plotkin’s Wild Mind Program and SAIP – Soulcraft Apprenticeship and Initiation Program at the Animas Valley Institute (USA).
Annarita Falanga
Annarita is a psychologist devoted to reviving rites of passage and the villages that have long held them. Rooted in the teachings of the School of Lost Borders and Bill Plotkin’s Nature-Based Human Development Model, she accompanies people through nature, ceremony, and community, trusting that every meaningful transition carries gifts waiting to be offered back to the world.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Who can participate?
The training is open to youth workers, educators, teachers, facilitators, psychologists, mentors, coaches, social workers, and other professionals working with young people.
Participants must:
- be at least 18 years old;
- have a good level of English;
- have legal residency in Italy, Romania, Spain, Latvia, Czechia, or Cyprus;
- be willing to engage fully in an experiential learning journey and to bring its learning back into their own communities.
What are the costs?
Accommodation, food, materials, and all training activities are fully covered by the Erasmus+ programme.
Travel costs will be reimbursed according to Erasmus+ distance bands and the limits specified for each partner country after the successful completion of the project requirements.
Participants are also invited to make a voluntary donation (80–120 €) to support future youth projects organised by Revolution Hub APS. The donation is completely optional and does not influence participation in any way.
When and where?
- 5 October 2026 – Arrival
- 6–12 October 2026 – Training Course
- 13 October 2026 – Departure
The training will take place in Centola (Cilento National Park, Southern Italy), surrounded by Mediterranean forests and close to the sea, offering an ideal environment for nature-based learning and rites of passage.
How to travel?
Detailed travel information, recommended connections, reimbursement procedures, and shuttle service instructions will be shared with all selected participants after the selection process.
Whenever possible, we encourage participants to choose environmentally friendly means of transport such as trains, buses, or carpooling.
Health Insurance
Participants are responsible for arranging their own health insurance for the duration of their stay in Italy.
Food
Three vegetarian meals per day, together with snacks, fruit, coffee, tea, and water, will be provided throughout the training.
Please inform us in advance about any allergies, intolerances, or dietary requirements.
To support the quality of the group experience, the training will remain alcohol- and drug-free throughout the programme.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please complete the online Application Form and carefully read the Info Pack before submitting your application.
Applications close on 16 August 2026.
Training overview
This Training Course is
for 24 participants
from Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries 
and recommended for
Youth workers, Trainers, Youth leaders, Youth coaches
Working language(s):
English
Organiser:
Revolution Hub Aps (Youth NGO)
REVOLUTION HUB APS is an Italian non-profit organization devoted to creating transformative learning experiences that support young people and the adults who accompany them in becoming more fully human.
Inspired by the contemporary tradition of rites of passage, the association designs educational projects that weave together nature connection, circles, ceremony, community life, and experiential learning. Through Erasmus+ programmes, immersive journeys, and nature-based trainings, Revolution Hub creates spaces where belonging is restored, unique gifts are witnessed, and life’s transitions are met with greater presence and care.
Its work is rooted in the belief that every young person deserves a village, and that today’s youth workers can become the Elders who help communities remember how to accompany growth with wisdom, courage, and love.
Among its activities are:
* Erasmus+ training courses and youth exchanges
* Nature-based rites of passage experiences
* Council circles and community-building practices
* Transformative journeys and immersive retreats
* Wonder-based education and nature connection
* Embodiment, storytelling, ceremony, and symbolic practices
* Educational projects fostering belonging, resilience, and personal growth
Co-organiser(s):
- Actions for Change (Youth NGO)
✅ 10 practical tips to write a stronger Erasmus+ or ESC application and actually get selected. With growing competition for spots in Erasmus+ and ESC projects, a well-crafted application can genuinely make or break your chances. This guide shares 10 concrete, actionable tips based on what selection committees actually look for — covering everything from how to frame your motivation to the common mistakes that get applications rejected. If you're serious about getting selected, take the time to read this before you hit submit. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/8396/
📥 Contact
Contact for questions:
Annarita Falanga
E-Mail:
Phone: +393284407618
💶 Costs
Participation fee
To honor the different financial realities within our community, we invite each participant to make a voluntary donation on a sliding scale (80–120 €). We trust you to choose an amount that feels both generous and sustainable for your circumstances.
Accommodation and food
Accommodation, food, materials, and all training activities are fully covered by the Erasmus+ programme.
Travel reimbursement
Travel costs (plane, train, or bus) are covered by the Erasmus+ programme and will be reimbursed after the training, up to the following maximum amounts:
- Italy, Romania, Spain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, and Latvia: up to €309 per participant
To receive the reimbursement, participants are required to:
- keep and submit all travel tickets, boarding passes, and receipts;
- complete the Erasmus+ Participant Survey;
- take part in the agreed dissemination and follow-up activities after the training.
Please note that reimbursement can only be processed once all Erasmus+ requirements have been fulfilled.
📜 Certificate
https://youthworkshub.org/15122
⚠️ Important Dates
Application deadline (24h UTC): 22 August 2026
Date of selection: 23 August 2026
🔗 Official Link
https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/training/wise-elders-village.15156/
😄 How every Erasmus+ group chat starts vs. how it ends — a journey in messages. If you've ever been part of an Erasmus+ project group chat, you already know the energy: the awkward introductions, the overenthusiastic emojis, the plans that never happen, and the inside jokes that follow you for years. This article captures the evolution of every Erasmus+ group dynamic with humour and honesty — and if you haven't experienced it yet, consider this your preview of what's coming. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/15112/
📖 The real story behind every Erasmus+ and ESC journey — what happens before, during, and after.Every Erasmus+ and ESC project has an official timeline: application, preparation, mobility, evaluation. But the real story is much richer than that. This article takes you through what genuinely happens at each stage of a project's life — the doubts, the breakthroughs, the unexpected friendships, and the quiet moments that change everything. A deeply human look at what these programmes mean beyond the paperwork. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/15180/
🚨 How to spot a real Erasmus+ or ESC project — and protect yourself from fake offers. As the popularity of Erasmus+ and ESC grows, so does the number of fraudulent offers mimicking legitimate projects. Fake calls, scam organisations, and misleading listings can be difficult to identify — especially for first-time applicants. This guide gives you the specific red flags to watch for, the verification steps you should always take, and the key differences between genuine EU-funded projects and imitations. Stay informed, stay safe. 👉 https://youthworkshub.org/15135/
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
This announcement has been prepared based on the information provided by the source.
2️⃣ No Affiliation
YouthWorks Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the projects listed. All applications must be submitted directly to the project coordinator or hosting organisation through the original link, email, etc.
3️⃣ Content May Change
The project coordinator is solely responsible for the accuracy and details of the opportunity. Deadlines, eligible countries, activity dates, and other details may change, or the announcement may be withdrawn entirely, at any time after publication. Always check the original link before applying.
4️⃣ Funding
All funding, travel reimbursements, and allowances are determined and provided by the project coordinator or National Agency. YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for any payments or financial matters.
5️⃣ External Links
Listings may contain links to third-party websites, forms, or documents (e.g. the ESC Portal, infopacks, application forms). YouthWorks Hub is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or security of these external sources.
💡 Final Note: All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official project coordinator or programme website before applying.
