The Clown In You is an Erasmus+ training course in Estonia, from 20 to 27 January 2027, where youth workers and educators dive into clowning, improv and personal exploration techniques. The training aims to enrich the toolbox of a youth worker and to give participants the chance to learn about themselves and explore personal boundaries, acquiring clowning techniques along the way. Applications close on 15 October 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the infopack, the application form and the organiser's policies so you know exactly what you are signing up for.
Shokkin Group Estonia hosts the course at VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus in Vihi, with a final stop in Tallinn. No prior experience with clowning or theatre is required: participants only need to be willing to explore new techniques and able to join the full training timeline. The application form asks you to confirm that you are aware of a 30 EUR advised contribution for the training course.
What the Training Is About
In a hands-on manner, a group of international participants, supported by the hosting and training team, dives into clowning, improv and personal exploration techniques. The training aims to enrich the toolbox of a youth worker and to give the possibility to learn about oneself and explore personal boundaries.
The programme works with two art forms, clowning and bouffon, and it prepares participants to use the techniques in direct work with young people, for example in communication trainings for young people.
What You Will Gain
The infopack lists four expected outcomes:
π A clear understanding of clowning and bouffon art forms.
π§ An exploration of personal boundaries with the art of clowning.
π§° A set of methods and practice techniques to use in direct work with young people (for example using techniques in communication trainings for young people).
π A confident attitude and the chance to find your clown personality.
The Training Timeline
π Preparation online meeting: 12 January 2027 at 18:00 CET, 60 minutes.
π In-person training activity: 20 to 27 January 2027.
π£ Local dissemination activities: January to April.
π₯οΈ Final online meeting: early April, 60 minutes.
An Intense Daily Rhythm
According to the organiser's Event Policy 2026, the event has an intense schedule. Most days include three practical sessions of 90 minutes and a last session of 60 minutes, with designated time for reflection.
To guarantee your full involvement, selected participants are expected not to plan any online meetings or appointments during the training programme hours, 9:50 to 19:00 EET. Any work or study related meetings must be done during break or free time slots. Participants are also expected to use mobile devices and equipment during session times only for emergencies or for assistance with the activity itself. The preliminary schedule is linked in the Links section.
What to Bring and How to Dress
Because the training is an immersive experience of exploring clowning and creating your own clown character, the training team asks participants to review the safer space policy and to commit to the following:
π€ Clothing: during the training sessions, wear comfortable plain black clothing without any writing, logos or slogans.
π A personal object: bring one object. Do not overthink the choice: choose it impulsively, and it should be something you like. It can be silly or seemingly meaningless.
π© Clown costume items: on the final day you design a clown costume and create a complete character. Bring a few pieces of clothing (trousers, skirts, shoes) and accessories (hat, wig, tie) from home or your family that are very loose, very tight, very small, very large, very long or very short. Participants wear these items and exchange them during the games.
π° A water bottle: bring your personal water bottle to use inside the training room.
𧦠Indoor footwear: inside the venue, wear socks, slippers or indoor shoes.
π§Ί Towels: provided by the venue.
Who Can Apply
The training is for people in the youth work and education sector:
π Age: 18 or older, with no upper age limit.
π₯ Profile: youth workers, non-formal educators, trainers, camp leaders, teachers, VET and higher education teaching staff, and student union representatives. Our guide to the role of youth workers explains how these roles fit into Erasmus+ projects.
π Previous experience: no prior experience with clowning or theatre is required. Candidates should be willing to explore new techniques and able to join the full training timeline.
π£οΈ Working language: participants are expected to be able to follow the training and cooperate in groups using English. The form asks you to rate your English level.
π Countries: the training is open to official residents of the 33 countries listed in the Project Snapshot, which are the EU member states plus six further countries.
Commitments You Make
π£ Dissemination: participants commit to local dissemination activities. This means organising at least one clowning or improv workshop with educators or young people per partner country within 2 months after the activity, and writing and publishing an article that summarises the training course experience on the sending organisation's online channel or another appropriate one.
π₯ Insurance: a valid medical insurance, for example the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), is mandatory during your travel, together with a separate travel insurance that must cover damage or loss of luggage, accidents and serious illness, and death. Each participant covers the costs and provides proof of medical and travel insurance upon the coordinators' request.
π·οΈ Advised contribution: the form asks you to confirm that you are aware of the 30 EUR advised contribution for the training course. The infopack and the policies do not say what it covers or when it is paid.
πΈ Photos and videos: pictures and videos taken during the activities might be used to document the training and to promote the project in reports, partner websites, social media accounts and further promotional materials.
π Full participation: in the form you commit to participate in the whole process of the project, meaning 100% of the work programme, and the form warns that failing to do so might result in non-return of your travel expenses or even withdrawal from the project activity. The Educational Event Participation Policy says that to be eligible for travel reimbursement a participant is expected to take part in 80% of the event's programme, and the Event Policy 2026 says that running late or missing sessions may decrease the total reimbursable amount.
π« Alcohol, tobacco and drugs: the form says alcohol consumption during the training day is forbidden and allowed after content sessions are finished. The participation policy allows moderate alcohol consumption for participants and staff above 18 only after the official work programme is finished for the day, tobacco only in designated areas during off-session times, and it follows a strict no-drug policy at all times for everyone. A violation of the alcohol or drug rules may result in immediate termination of participation.
The Safer Space Policy
Shokkin Group describes a safer space as a supportive, non-threatening environment where all participants can feel comfortable expressing themselves and sharing experiences without fear of discrimination or reprisal. The word "safer" acknowledges that safety is relative: not everyone feels safe under the same conditions. The policy asks staff and participants to follow ten expectations:
π€ Respect others' physical and emotional boundaries.
π€ Respect others' identities and backgrounds, including pronouns and names.
π« Do not assume or make judgments on anyone's gender identity, sexual preference, survivor status, health status, economic status, religion, background, beliefs or opinions.
π Respect others' right to privacy during and beyond the event: do not push anyone to answer questions they do not want to answer, and do not share anyone's personal stories outside the event.
π Be aware that your actions and words may have unintended effects on other people and that their feelings are valid, regardless of your intentions.
π£οΈ Avoid raising your voice, interrupting or talking over anyone else, and make sure everyone gets a chance to speak.
π Assume positive intent: if someone crosses a boundary, gently let them know, without assuming they intended harm.
π Remember that we are all learning.
πͺ Take care of your own safety: if you need to step out, feel free to do so, and if you feel unsafe, let the facilitator know.
π’ If you witness any abusive or inappropriate behaviour, let the facilitator or the responsible coordinator know.
To report an issue after an event coordinated by Shokkin Group, you can approach the chief of board of the organisation through the address in the Links section.
The Venue: VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus in Vihi
From 20 to 26 January 2027, the training is hosted at VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus. Accommodation and training are provided in en-suite rooms of 2 to 4 people of the same sex and mixed countries. The venue's own website gives the address as Tagahoov, Vihi kΓΌla, PΓ΅hja-Sakala vald, Viljandimaa 71411, and describes the place as quiet, beautiful and memorable, with a main house, camping sites, cottage homes, a sauna house and a pond house.
π³ Food: the venue provides a hearty breakfast, a light lunch, a hearty dinner and two coffee breaks with fruit and snacks, plus extra fruit. Diets are respected if you communicate them in the arrival form.
π Shop: there is no shop nearby the venue.
π§ Sauna: there will be an opportunity to use the sauna and, hopefully, to dip into the snow.
ποΈ Tallinn: on 26 January 2027 the group travels together by a privately arranged bus to Tallinn, where there is time to discover the city and local youth work practices. The accommodation that night is arranged in a hotel in Tallinn, and the exact hotel will be confirmed closer to the training.
Getting There: Viljandi, Vihi and Tallinn
Selected participants plan their trip to the town of Viljandi, Estonia.
π Arrival: be at Viljandi bus station by 19:30 on 20 January 2027. An arranged bus picks the group up there and drives to Vihi.
π« Departure: participants can depart from Tallinn at any time on 27 January 2027.
π Travel days: participants are expected to travel on the arrival and departure days, 20 and 27 January. If an earlier or later travel day is desired, it should fall within 2 days before or after the activity: not earlier than 18 January and no later than 29 January. In the form you confirm that you can arrive or leave within these 2 days at your own expense.
π§ Route: the route must be the most direct one from the sending organisation's region and back. For a different route or itinerary, contact the coordinator for approval first.
Travel Budgets and Reimbursement
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the infopack, there is a fixed maximum reimbursable amount for each individual trip. Travel costs above the maximum are not covered. The travel budgets by distance band are:
π 100 to 499 km: 201 EUR, or 275 EUR for green travel.
π 500 to 1,999 km: 299 EUR, or 407 EUR for green travel.
βοΈ 2,000 to 2,999 km: 385 EUR.
π 3,000 to 3,999 km: 570 EUR.
The infopack adds that the travel budget is reduced by 10 EUR, as it is reserved for covering the arranged buses between Viljandi, Vihi and Tallinn. You can check the preliminary travel distance from your organisation's town with the Erasmus+ distance calculator, and our guide to Erasmus+ travel reimbursement and distance bands explains how these bands work. The organisers encourage green travel whenever possible, in which case an additional budget and additional days are possible, and you contact the coordinator for details. Our guide to green travel in Erasmus+ covers the programme rules.
How and when you are reimbursed. Reimbursements are made by bank transfer to the organisation or an appointed responsible participant, after all necessary travel documentation and proof of dissemination activities are sent to the hosts. The hosts make the transfer within 14 days from the moment they have everything needed from a country group.
The travel rules in the Event Policy 2026. The policy lists these conditions for full reimbursement:
π« Do not arrive later than the arrival day and do not depart before the departure day given in the infopack, and obtain the cheapest class tickets (3rd, 2nd or basic class).
ποΈ Book your main tickets (flight, train or bus) both ways before the deadline communicated by the coordinator.
𧳠Add only 1 piece of checked-in luggage if necessary.
π°οΈ Arrive or leave within a total of 2 days from the arrival or departure day.
π§ Choose the most direct route from the city of residence to the project venue. Re-routes might not be reimbursed unless agreed beforehand for a legitimate reason.
π Gas checks, tolls and car rides are not reimbursed unless the project coordinator confirms them beforehand.
π Taxis are reimbursed only when no other public transportation is available at night (after 23:59 and before 06:00), or during the daytime when the group travels together and a taxi is cheaper than public bus or train tickets for the group.
π For distances of less than 600 to 800 km or 10 hours of travel time, participants are expected to use train or bus.
π¨ Accommodation expenses up to 30 EUR can be reimbursed if there is no appropriate travel option to the venue on the arrival day.
Documents. The policy asks for invoices and the official itinerary (PDF) of all air travel and the boarding pass (PDF or a screenshot from the airline app). For train, bus and ferry travel it asks for ticket receipts and invoices (PDF). Additional physical tickets are given to the project coordinator, and original tickets or boarding passes are scanned and sent by post after the mobility if applicable. Only original tickets, generated PDF invoices and the PDF itinerary downloaded from the company's website count as original travel documents, so request an invoice by e-mail from the company when needed. Only costs connected to travel to the project venue are reimbursed: no hotel stays and no extra tickets for sightseeing during layovers.
Meet the Team
π¨ Olalla GonzΓ‘lez (Estonia). She has worked as a project and volunteer manager at Shokkin Group Estonia since 2017 and has been a graphic facilitator and recorder since 2018, contributing visual facilitation techniques in educational events all over Europe. She also creates visual designs for many of Shokkin Group's project results and supports youth initiatives and youth-led campaigns.
π€‘ Seda AkgΓΌn. She has worked as a theatre actor since 2012 and has focused on physical theatre for the past five years. She is a clown and bouffon performer, improviser and facilitator. She is currently an actor and facilitator at Istanbulimpro and at the Kirmizi Kumpani clown group, where she regularly performs, leads improvisation workshops and develops performance projects, and she facilitates workshops in clown, physical theatre and improvisation for performers, educators, youth workers and other groups.
π² Pavel Vassiljev (Estonia). One of the founders of Shokkin Group Estonia, with youth work experience since 2005 and international training delivery experience since 2013. He specialises in game-based learning with a focus on escape and tabletop games, and he currently delivers training for the Estonian National Agency, designs games and explores their transformative characteristics. Pavel is also the contact for travel administration and coordination.
The Organisers
MTΓ Shokkin Group Estonia is the partner promoter that manages the application data. Its own website describes it as a membership-based organisation in Tallinn that provides young people, youth leaders and educators with tools and opportunities for personal, professional and social growth, and as part of Shokkin Group International, a European network of youth organisations and specialists.
The application form lists the organisations that participants can name as the one they represent: Above Foundation (Hungary), A.R.T. Fusion Association (Romania), Black Water Training (Ireland), CPM - Center za pomoΔ mladim (Slovenia), Kaebnai (PaΓs Vasco, Spain), La Vibria (Catalunya, Spain), L'Ayalguina (Asturias, Spain), Maverick (Bulgaria), MOH (Italy), MUYA (Malta), NaturKultur e.V. (Germany), Nomades Carretera (Greece), Shokkin Group (Estonia) and SYTEV (Slovakia). If your organisation is not on the list, you indicate "other" and give its OID. Our guide to what an OID is explains the registration.
How to Apply and What the Form Asks
The infopack and the form ask you to check the infopack, the travel reimbursement policy and the safer space policy for details. The organisers value concrete, concise and personal answers written without AI tools. For help with the written answers, see our tips for preparing a strong Erasmus+ application and our Erasmus+ preparation guide. The form asks for:
π Your acknowledgement of the data protection notice: your data is stored and managed by the partner promoter, MTΓ Shokkin Group Estonia, and used only to manage the project, in line with the GDPR.
π€ Your name, surname, e-mail address, phone number with international code, date of birth and gender (female or male).
ποΈ Your country of residence, chosen from the list of 33 countries, and your town or city.
πΌ Which description fits you most: youth worker (full-time or part-time), school, VET or higher education teacher or staff member, freelance educator or trainer, NGO staff member (project manager, board member), youth leader (school council, student or youth organisation member), youth camp worker (seasonal), volunteer youth worker (occasional), or none of the above.
π’ The organisation you represent, and its OID if you chose "other".
βοΈ Your experience in youth work or education, why you want to be part of the course, and how and with whom exactly you plan to use clowning and improv approaches.
π£ With whom you are able to implement the dissemination activities, online and in real life (workshops, promo events, online posts), including the profile of the target group and the context.
π£οΈ Your English level, from "English is my mother tongue" to "my command of English is basic".
βΏ Any obstacles or special needs, and anything else you want to share (both optional).
β Three confirmations: your insurance (you will obtain travel insurance and have your EHIC with you), your travel preparation (the cheapest tickets, arrival and departure times, main tickets booked before the deadline, one checked-in bag, the most direct route, the taxi rules and the reimbursement policy), and your participation (100% of the work programme, the safer space environment, preparatory tasks and dissemination, the 30 EUR advised contribution, the alcohol rule and the safer space policy).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience in clowning or theatre?
No. The infopack states that no prior experience with clowning or theatre is required. Candidates should be willing to explore new techniques and able to join the full training timeline.
Who can apply?
People aged 18 or older with no upper age limit, working as youth workers, non-formal educators, trainers, camp leaders, teachers, VET or higher education teaching staff, or student union representatives, and living officially in one of the 33 countries in the Project Snapshot.
What is the application deadline?
15 October 2026. The infopack and the application form both give this date.
Is there a participation fee?
The form asks you to confirm that you are aware of a 30 EUR advised contribution for the training course. The infopack and the policies do not say what the contribution covers or when it is paid.
What language is the training held in?
English. Participants are expected to follow the training and cooperate in groups in English, and the form asks you to rate your English level.
Where does the training take place?
At VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus in Vihi, from 20 to 26 January 2027, followed by a group trip to Tallinn on 26 January. Participants plan their trip to Viljandi.
When do I arrive and leave?
Arrive at Viljandi bus station by 19:30 on 20 January 2027, where an arranged bus takes the group to Vihi. You can depart from Tallinn at any time on 27 January 2027.
What are the rooms like?
En-suite rooms for 2 to 4 people of the same sex and mixed countries. Towels are provided by the venue.
What do I have to wear?
Comfortable plain black clothing without any writing, logos or slogans during the training sessions. Inside the venue, wear socks, slippers or indoor shoes.
What should I bring for the clown costume?
A few pieces of clothing (trousers, skirts, shoes) and accessories (hat, wig, tie) from home or your family that are very loose, very tight, very small, very large, very long or very short, plus one personal object chosen impulsively.
How much of my travel is reimbursed?
Up to a fixed maximum by distance band, from 201 EUR for 100 to 499 km to 570 EUR for 3,000 to 3,999 km, with higher amounts for green travel in the first two bands. The infopack says the travel budget is reduced by 10 EUR to cover the arranged buses.
When is the reimbursement paid?
By bank transfer within 14 days from the moment the hosts have all the necessary travel documentation and proof of dissemination activities from your country group.
Can I take a taxi?
Only when no other public transportation is available at night, between 23:59 and 06:00, or during the daytime when the group travels together and a taxi is cheaper than public tickets for the group. Other taxi rides are not reimbursed.
Can I attend online meetings during the training?
No. Selected participants are expected not to plan online meetings or appointments during the programme hours, 9:50 to 19:00 EET, and to do work or study related meetings during break or free time slots.
Is the sauna available?
Yes. The infopack says there will be an opportunity to use the sauna and, hopefully, to dip into the snow.
Project Snapshot
π Type: Erasmus+ Training Course
π Location: VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus, Vihi, and Tallinn, Estonia
ποΈ Activity Dates: 20β27 January 2027 (arrival 20 January by 19:30 at Viljandi bus station, departure from Tallinn on 27 January)
π Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, TΓΌrkiye
π Age: 18+ (no upper age limit)
Deadline
β³ 15 October 2026
Applications close on 15 October 2026. Find more Erasmus+ training courses on Youth Works Hub.
Links
π Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwiJT6Gpa1DIzmuvFI0HlTWzt6UdV_wq0YNM8HDIPkpFPBOA/viewform
π Infopack: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHSt340VKM/lDgSpyEnwi_-NhBYoiFXLw/view
ποΈ Preliminary schedule: https://canva.link/neq7u1lvftsdaux
π‘οΈ Safer space policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14uu1fdXEU1PMB5NWbkAj6Gf1vRMqHykO/view?usp=drive_link
π³ Travel reimbursement policy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q_FoDO0O00f0KjBXtJFXTj4EdQeedv5J/view?usp=drive_link
π Erasmus+ distance calculator: http://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/resources-and-tools/distance-calculator
π Viljandi (map): https://maps.app.goo.gl/R4hyeqPX3cFduKtf6
π‘ VanaΓ΅ue Puhkekeskus: https://www.vanaoue.ee/
π Shokkin Group Estonia: http://et.shokkin.org/
π Istanbulimpro: https://www.istanbulimpro.com/
π€‘ Kirmizi Kumpani: https://www.instagram.com/kirmizi.kumpani/
π§ Travel administration, coordination and policy reports (Pavel Vassiljev): pavel@shokkin.org
