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SHALOM MAGAZINE, 1997 Issue No. 2
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HORSES |
C-SECTION |
NURSING |
TRAINING YOUTH |
YOUTH EDUCATION |
AIDS UPDATE |
FIGHTING AIDS |
EDUCATION FOR ALL |
PANAMA |
DAIRY |
CITRUS ON FILM |
NEWS |
CLUBS |
REPORTS |
CHINA
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Non-Formal Education and Youth Leadership by Sergio Gryn
Course Coordinator, International Institute
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When someone talks about a "teaching," the image that comes to mind is that
of lectures and workshops inside a classroom. Some teachers may have
extensive knowledge in their field and others not so much; they can
sometimes be dynamic and entertaining, and sometimes rigid and formal.
These are some of the natural conclusions made at the end of this kind
of event.
But when we ask ourselves what characterizes non-formal education, we find
that the essential elements through which the educational message is
transmitted are first hand and personal experience. A good example is the
Non-Formal Education and Youth Leadership Course for Latin American leaders
which has been given at the International Institute - Histadrut for more
than 20 years.
During the last course (held from October to December, 1996), we arranged
meetings with leaders of Israeli youth movements at the International
Institute (pictured here) and at the very centres where they develop their
educational activities, enabling the participants, in spite of language
differences, to establish a spontaneous communication and understanding.
Participants spent time at Nitzana, a youth village in the middle of the
Negev desert, where they experienced first hand the process of assimilation
of knowledge and values. At Nitzana usually groups of Israeli young people
come to learn about living in and loving the desert. Our group from the
International Institute spent several days under the leadership of two
Israeli youth leaders (aged 18 and 19) who were completely and "adultly" in
charge of the program.
It was really enriching for this group, made up of representatives from
more than 15 countries ranging from 20 to 50 years of age, to mount donkeys
or ride bikes, tour archaeological sites, appreciating and enjoying the
spirit of the event as a group.
To sum up, the methodology we apply to teaching non-formal education is
basically non-formal education itself.
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