Jazak |
Jazak Learning Center in Serbia |
Villages for Applied Learning
The idea of constructing applied learning centers emerged through the work of Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) course participants, discussing late into the night on what could be done after the course in order to create positive impact in the real world, and how to promote sustainability knowledge within communities in their respective countries. Key guiding questions include how to realize change towards a more sustainable lifestyle, and how to promote prosperous development in rural areas. Many of the participants were about to finish their university studies or had just finished their Masters or PhD in a specific academic field. These participants have considerable knowledge which they would like to apply for the betterment of the society, but lack practical experience whilst being confronted with daily realities. We saw that a space was required where they could develop their ideas and plans in the company of a group of like-minded, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary peers. The objective of the Jazak Learning Center is to provide a space where participants can spend a few weeks or months in creative planning, whilst undertaking grassroots work in and for the village, thereby enabling them to bring that experience back home and apply it to their local context.
This is why we call it a Center for Applied Learning. In CERUDA, we promote learning by doing, gaining concrete experiences by doing hands-on work and creating a platform to explore one's own or existing technological, socio-economic and community-building abilities. The intention is also to act as educators in the local area, gain education for sustainable development training and possibly for participants to become educators when they return to their home country. With the large number of YES Alumni, we have a considerable number of scholars in many areas ready to act as local helpers and incubators, willing to learn more and undertake some voluntary work.
YES Villages are created in the heart of an existing rural village and not on a green meadow. Our Jazak Center is in the middle of the community, and we are building it using existing housing and infrastructure facilities to the furthest extent possible. Many similar remote villages suffer from a population decline and migration of young, good qualified people. Empty houses in bad shape are found all over the place, traditional professions are dying out, artisanry is being lost, shops are closing and the people are losing hope for a better future. In many cases, basic infrastructure still exists, such as a school house or community meeting spaces. Our long-term vision is to bring resilience and vibrance to these otherwise declining rural communities.
Our Village Centers for Applied Learning focus on communities in decline, where with dedicated planning and capacity building, there is significant potential for positive change. We have the potential to create a revitalization and a sample village that attracts others in the area and beyond. We hope you will join us in this effort.
The idea of constructing applied learning centers emerged through the work of Youth Encounter on Sustainability (YES) course participants, discussing late into the night on what could be done after the course in order to create positive impact in the real world, and how to promote sustainability knowledge within communities in their respective countries. Key guiding questions include how to realize change towards a more sustainable lifestyle, and how to promote prosperous development in rural areas. Many of the participants were about to finish their university studies or had just finished their Masters or PhD in a specific academic field. These participants have considerable knowledge which they would like to apply for the betterment of the society, but lack practical experience whilst being confronted with daily realities. We saw that a space was required where they could develop their ideas and plans in the company of a group of like-minded, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary peers. The objective of the Jazak Learning Center is to provide a space where participants can spend a few weeks or months in creative planning, whilst undertaking grassroots work in and for the village, thereby enabling them to bring that experience back home and apply it to their local context.
This is why we call it a Center for Applied Learning. In CERUDA, we promote learning by doing, gaining concrete experiences by doing hands-on work and creating a platform to explore one's own or existing technological, socio-economic and community-building abilities. The intention is also to act as educators in the local area, gain education for sustainable development training and possibly for participants to become educators when they return to their home country. With the large number of YES Alumni, we have a considerable number of scholars in many areas ready to act as local helpers and incubators, willing to learn more and undertake some voluntary work.
YES Villages are created in the heart of an existing rural village and not on a green meadow. Our Jazak Center is in the middle of the community, and we are building it using existing housing and infrastructure facilities to the furthest extent possible. Many similar remote villages suffer from a population decline and migration of young, good qualified people. Empty houses in bad shape are found all over the place, traditional professions are dying out, artisanry is being lost, shops are closing and the people are losing hope for a better future. In many cases, basic infrastructure still exists, such as a school house or community meeting spaces. Our long-term vision is to bring resilience and vibrance to these otherwise declining rural communities.
Our Village Centers for Applied Learning focus on communities in decline, where with dedicated planning and capacity building, there is significant potential for positive change. We have the potential to create a revitalization and a sample village that attracts others in the area and beyond. We hope you will join us in this effort.
