Futures Innovation LAB

Are you ready to co-create new ideas and projects that bring futures thinking into the
lives of young people?

Join us for the Futures Innovation LAB, a three-day gathering of curious minds, changemakers, and educators who are passionate about exploring the power of futures literacy in practice. This seminar will provide a platform for sharing knowledge and expertise, fostering partnerships and creating innovative projects.

Why Participate?

● Networking: Connect with colleagues and organisations that share your interest in Futures Literacy. Form relationships that can lead to future collaborations and impactful projects.

● Learning: Engage with leading experts in the field of Futures Literacy. Learn about cutting-edge trends and innovative approaches in youth work.

● Collaboration: Contribute to discussions that can shape the future of youth work and Futures Literacy. Collaborate with others to develop ideas and projects.

● Inspiration: Gain insights from the experiences of others and share your own. Be inspired to take new approaches in your work with young people.

Who are we looking for?

Participants who:

● Are familiar with the concept of futures literacy or its elements (futures thinking, foresight, speculative/futures design, etc.)

● Have practical experience engaging, mentoring, or preparing young people to explore future possibilities - this is essential for participation

● Have the motivation and capacity to develop or implement projects—especially with or for young people - through futures literacy

● Are 18+ years old

● Speak English at B2 level or higher

What We Offer to support your participation:

● Travel: Economy class travel to and from Chorvátsky Grob/Bratislava. You might use travelling days 25th and 29th November to take part for the whole duration of the programme.

● Accommodation: Comfortable lodging (in 2 beds shared rooms) during the seminar in hotel Agatka.

● Meals: All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be provided.

● Interesting program: See below

To join the round of selection, please fill in the application form.

The Project Team Consists of:

Alena Tomanová: She has been involved in non-formal education in the field of youth work since 2008. She is currently working at YouthWatch, where she focuses on project coordination, as well as expert, methodological, and research activities. At present, she particularly enjoys mapping and analysing new youth trends and collaborating with a network of trendspotters. She is also part of the network of social innovators in Slovakia, where she introduces futures literacy into youth work and experiments in this field through various international and national projects. For example, she has worked on topics such as the future of healthy relationships, leisure time, education, and more.

Thomas D'hooge: He is a Belgium-based speaker, trainer and facilitator in Futures Literacy. He works with youth workers, educators and public organisations to make futures thinking practical and inclusive, from classroom activities to full Futures Literacy Labs. Active in the Teach the Future community, he helps teams imagine multiple futures, test assumptions and act with more agency today. Thomas is developing the “Futures Barometer” for schools and is writing a handbook, translating field practice into accessible methods. He works in Dutch and English.

Tomáš Pešek: For two decades, Tomáš has been dedicated to developing the potential of young people and seeking innovative ways to support their development. He is most familiar with non-formal education, coaching, and experiential pedagogy, areas in which he has long been active. He lectures in several programmes and also conducts long-term training for youth workers on the use of a coaching approach. He is a speaker at various conferences, where he often discusses the young generation, current youth trends, and how to prepare them for the future. He values long-term visions, an emphasis on quality, and projects with real impact.

Petr Fridrich: He graduated in Andragogy and Human Resources Management at Charles University. He has worked as an HR specialist, learning manager, development consultant, and lecturer. He also has experience with cultural projects and is known as a “laughologist,” public speaker on mental health, and founder of the stand-up show Nudná konference (“The Boring Conference”). For fifteen years, he worked in research and media, later as a strategic and innovation consultant. He collaborates with the international think-tank Innovation in Politics, co-founded the Czech platform for the Inner Development Goals, and is a member of the global Wellbeing Economy Alliance. Since 2020, he has been active in Futures Thinking and Futures Literacy, engaging in many international communities in this field. In 2022, he completed a UNESCO facilitator seminar, and in 2023, he co-organized the first Futures Literacy Lab in the Czech Republic at Kampus Hybernská.