UFUK BAL

Current occupation

Senior Trainer, Policy Expert/Consultant, Academician, Architect/Urban Designer

Work experience

As the CEO / Creative Director of *LAB Design and Research Group providing consultancy, innovative research and training to several companies and NGOs around Europe and beyond. Main focus is given on Social Entrepreneurhip and Mentoring trainings for social innovation among society actors.

As the Program Director and Senior Trainer of IDEA*LAB FOUNDATION involved in different training activities dealing with capacity building and sustainability of civil society organisations, project management and intercultural cooperation, rights-based approach, social inclusion, social entrepreneurship, media and journalism, conflict management, peaceful cooperation, quality assurance of non formal education, active participation of youth and NGOs in decision making processes, environmental sustainability and others. Also been member of Pool of Trainers of European Youth Forum. I have been actively contributing in educational development and implementation of various projects as (recently):
- senior trainer on "Erasmus@Home - Online Methods for Vulnerable Young People" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Lublin (Poland), March 2023
- senior trainer on "Youth Workers Going Digital" Training Course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by Fundacja Zdrowia i Rozwoju Człowieka, Bakuriani (Georgia), November 2022
- senior trainer on "Training of Trainers on Circular Economy" funded by Key Action 2 Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by OtB International, Novi Sad (Serbia), October 2022
-General Facilitator on"Citizens' Dialogue For Social Inclusion" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by NBU, Svarstad (Norway), September 2022
-International expert/senior trainer on "Training of Trainers on Youth Mainstreaming" Training Course funded and organized by OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in Pristina (Kosovo), September 2022
-General facilitator on "Magic BOX - Innovative Tools for Social Inclusion" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by NBU, Svarstad (Norway), June 2022
-senior trainer on "Digital Citizens - Youth Participation in Digital Era" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Wroclaw (Poland), October 2021
-General Facilitator on "Virtual Reality for Social Inclusion" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Lviv (Ukraine), September 2021
-General Facilitator on "Smart Youth Programme" seminar on youth service design funded by Key Action 2 Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Wroclaw (Poland), March 2020
- senior trainer on "ProDeForm - TOT on Employability" Training Course funded by Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund by SYC NGO, Yerevan (Armenia), February 2020
- senior trainer on "Digital Security in Youth Work" Training Course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Wroclaw (Poland), January 2020
- International expert/senior trainer on "Capacity Building Training of Community Mobilizers" Training Course funded and organized by GIZ, in Tbilisi (Georgia), December 2019
- facilitator on "You are The Tolerance" Youth Exchange funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Wroclaw (Poland), November 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "Youth camp on human rights, tolerance and freedom of religion" Training Course funded and organized by OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in Tivat (Montenegro), November 2019
- senior trainer on "Focus on Service design and Co-creation" Training Course funded by Key Action 2 Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by PTAI, in Daugirdiškės (Lithuania), November 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "OSCE Youth Forum Academy" training of trainers funded and organized by OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in Prishtinë/Priština (Kosovo), September 2019
- senior trainer on "Developing Resilience Through Youth Work" Training Course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Zagórze Śląskie (Poland), September 2019
- facilitator on "Shaping palette of Inclusion" Youth Exchange funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by IDEA LAB FOUNDATION, Kiev (Ukraine), August 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "Capacity Building Training of Community Mobilizers" Training Course funded and organized by GIZ, in Baku (Azerbaijan), June 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "Capacity Building Training of Community Mobilizers" Training Course funded and organized by GIZ, in Tbilisi (Georgia), June 2019
- facilitator on "Creative HUB of Social Inclusion" Youth Exchange funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by HORN Association, Cardiff (Wales), June 2019
- General Facilitator on PA seminar "Youth Work and sustainable communities: the role of the European Youth Card in delivering youth work services" programme of Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the European Youth Card, of the
Council of Europe, in Helsinki (Finland), May 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "Coaches and Mentors Training on Youth Participation and Empowerment working with Vulnerable Youth" Training Course funded and organized by GIZ, in Tbilisi (Georgia), February 2019
- facilitator/group leader on "YEAD - Young European Cultural Audiance Development" advanced meeting funded by Creative Europe programme by CVB, in Brussels (Belgium), February 2019
- International expert/senior trainer on "Youth Participation and Empowerment in South Caucasus" Training Course funded and organized by GIZ, in Tbilisi (Georgia), January 2019
- senior trainer on "Training Course on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Coaches and Mentors" Training Course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by Consilium DT, Worcester (UK), December 2018
- senior trainer on "International Camp for Solidarity with Palestinian Youth" capacity building of youth organizations organized by ICYF-DC, Amman (Jordan), September 2018
- senior trainer on "Cross-sectoral Cooperation of CSOs" Training Course funded by Key Action 2 Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by PTAI, in Daugirdiškės (Lithuania), March 2018
- senior trainer on "Europe for All" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA International, in Izmir (Turkey), December 2017.
-facilitator on "Quality EVS 4 Inclusion" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Seiklejate Vennaskond, in Vardi (Estonia), July 2017.
- senior trainer on "Connectors - Training Course on Alternative Conflict Resolution" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA International, in Hebron-Bethlehem-Jerusalem (Palestine), June/July 2017.
- senior trainer on "Do It Right" international training course on enhance quality project design funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission by YIC (AM), May 2017.
-facilitator on "YSEN - Young Social Entrepreneurs Network" PBA on social innovation funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YOUTHOPIA, in Istanbul (Turkey) February/March 2017.
- senior trainer on "INTER-MEDIATE - Intercultural social mediation” Training course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Consilium Development and Training, in Worcester (United Kingdom) December 2016.
- senior trainer on "Connectors 2.0” Training course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA International, in Barcelona (Spain) November 2016.
- senior trainer on "EUROPE ONE - Refugees' mission to survive” Training course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by *LAB DRG, in Kiev (Ukraine) October 2016.
- senior trainer on "Volunteering Management Lab” Training Course funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Wielkopolska Rada Koordynacyjna Związek Organizacji Pozarządowych, in Poznan (Poland) September 2016.
- senior trainer on "Can i come in?” Seminar funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Seiklejate Vennaskond, in Rakvere (Estonia) September 2016.
-facilitator on "Finding grass-root solutions for refugee crisis in Europe” PBA funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Out of the Box International, in Brussels (Belgium) June 2016.
- trainer on "Get engaged!" Training Course funded by Key Action 2 Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by The National Youth Council of Hungary (NIT), the Polish Council of Youth Organisations (PROM) and the Erasmus Students Network (ESN), in Budapest (Hungary) May 2016.
- General Facilitator on "YPIDA International Education Week - In Solidarity with Refugees towards Social Inclusion” funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA, in Istanbul (Turkey) February/March 2016.
- senior trainer on "UNITE - Unite Against Discrimination, Fight Against Islamophobia", funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA, in Berlin (Germany) December 2015.
- senior trainer on "Step into the dialogue", funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Active Group and STRIM, in Tallin (Estonia) November 2015.
- facilitator on "Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union Youth Conference" conference for 300 youth representatives, DG's, EU Commissioners by leading parallel workshops in two days slots together with youth workers and youth representatives as well as DG of National Ministries organized by Luxembourg National Youth Council, European Commission Steering Committee, European Youth Forum in Luxembourg, (Luxembourg) September 2015.
- facilitator on "European Youth Week - Structured Dialogue Conference" conference for 200 youth representatives, DG's, EU Commissioners by leading parallel workshops in three days slots together with youth workers and youth representatives as well as DG of National Ministries organized by Latvian National Youth Council, European Commission Steering Committee, European Youth Forum in Brussels, (Belgium) May 2015.
- senior trainer on "Intercultural Dialogue for Social Change", funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by Active Group and STRIM, in Wroclaw (Poland) April 2015.
- facilitator on "Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union Youth Conference" conference for 300 youth representatives, DG's, EU Commissioners by leading parallel workshops in two days slots together with youth workers and youth representatives as well as DG of National Ministries organized by Latvian National Youth Council, European Commission Steering Committee, European Youth Forum in Riga, (Latvia) March 2015.
- senior trainer on "DECODE - Decoding Conflicts through Dialogue", funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by STRIM, in Krakow (Poland) December 2014.
- senior trainer on "Youth TREE - Training and Resource for Energizing the Employability" funded by Erasmus+ Programme of European Commission, organized by YPIDA, in Istanbul (Turkey) November 2014.
- facilitator on "Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union Youth Conference" conference for 300 youth representatives, DG's, EU Commissioners by leading parallel workshops in two days slots together with youth workers and youth representatives as well as DG of National Ministries on young people's acess to rights and youth empowerment organized by FNG Italian National Youth Forum, European Commission Steering Committee, European Youth Forum in Rome, (Italy) October 2014.
-trainer on Quality Assurance of Non Formal Education Training for Croatian Youth Network, organized by European Youth Forum in Zagreb (Croatia) February 2014.
-trainer on Quality Assurance of Non Formal Education Training for CEM & ACTIVE, organized by European Youth Forum in Travnik (Bosnia and Herzagovina) January 2014.
-trainer on Quality Assurance of Non Formal Education Training for MIJARC Europe, organized by European Youth Forum in Brussels (Belgium) December 2013.
- senior trainer on "SocialPR Training for NGOs and Volunteers" 20 representatives from 6 different countries for better use of social media in their daily youth work and campaigns, supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 4.3 Programme in Istanbul, (Turkey) October 2013
- trainer on Quality Assurance of Non Formal Education Training for project managers, trainers and experts organized by European Youth Forum in Mollina (Spain), September, 2013.
- senior trainer on "Through Media to Participation. Social media in service of youth NGO’s", funded by Youth in Action Programme of European Commission, organized by Eastern Initiative Institute, in Krakow (Poland) September 2013.
- senior trainer on "TOM for Climate Change", funded by Youth in Action Programme of European Commission, organized by Earth Association, in Istanbul (Turkey) April 2013.
- senior trainer on MELIAL Media Literacy for Adult Learners Lifelong Learning Programme Grundtvig Workshop financed by the Turkish National Agency for the Lifelong Learning Programme and hosted and organized by Youth Participation Association YPIDA in Ankara (Turkey)15 - 23 March 2013,
- facilitator on "MACBET Evaluation: Advanced Journalism and Media and Training" training course for media workers from 15 countries for better practice, supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Istanbul, (Turkey) December 2012
- facilitator on "CoE Youth Event prior to the 9th Council of Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth" Young people’s access to rights: development of innovative youth policies, organized by Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth, European Youth Forum and National Youth Council of Russia, in St. Petersburg, (Russia) September 2012.
- trainer on "EuroCAmp:UEFA RESPECT your Health project" training brings together around 250 young people from disadvantaged social backgrounds from all 53 UEFA nations for five days of intercultural workshops, football, learning and fun, supported by European Comission, UEFA, in Wroclaw, (Poland) August 2012
- trainer on “Sustainability Training for Polish Council of Youth Organizations - PROM” for strong youth organizations and capacity building of PROM strategy plan 2012 – 2014, supported by Polish Ministry of Education and European Youth Forum in Warsaw, (Poland) May 2012
- facilitator on “Euro-Arab Youth Leaders Meeting” 40 youth leaders for networking and partnership development together with institutional partners CoE-WB-LAS-NSC, supported by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Youth Forum, and YOUTH IN ACTION Programme in Rome, (Italy) May 2012
- trainer on "MACBET Advanced Journalism and Media and Training" training course for media workers from 15 countries for better practice, supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Ankara, (Turkey) January 2012
- facilitator on "Networking Days for National Youth Councils" organized by European Youth Forum, in Belgrade (Serbia) December 2011
- trainer on "ICBATEP training course on environmental issues and volunteering" supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Istanbul, (Turkey) October 2011
- trainer on "Millenium Goals and Global Issues" training course supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 4.3 Programme in Balikesir, (Turkey) September 2011
- trainer on "Renewable Europe Seminar" supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 5 Programme organized by YPIDA in Antalya, (Turkey) July 2011
-trainer on Getting Organized in Networking training course supported by YOUTH IN ACTION 4.3 Programme in Istanbul, (Turkey) April 2011
- facilitator on the "Networking Days in Bosnia and Herzegovina" organized by European Youth Forum, in Sarajevo (BiH) March 2011
- facilitator on the "Networking Days in Poland" organized by European Youth Forum with financial support of the Ministry of Education of Poland, in Krakow (Poland) November 2010
- trainer on the "We owned our rights" organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 1.3 Programme in Wroclaw (Poland) in 2010
- trainer on the “Gencligin Aktif Katilimda Innovatif Yaklasimlar Zirvesi”organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 5.1 Programme in Istanbul (Turkey) in December 2009
- trainer on the "We owned our rights" organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 1.3 Programme in Mersin (Turkey) in 2009
- trainer on the "Let Creativity Manage You" organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 4.3 Programme in Izmir (Turkey) in October 2009
- trainer on the "Training Course in Intercultural Conflicts Handling" organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Wroclaw (Poland) in February 2009
- manager and trainer on the "STEP ONE: Training Course on Non Formal Education" organized with the support YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Izmir (Turkey) in November 2008
- trainer on the “Intercultural Dialogue Project Management” International Training Course organized with the support of the YOUTH IN ACTION 3.1 Programme in Krakow (Poland) in April 2008
- trainer on the “Let's InterCoolTour Train You” International Training Course organized with the support of the YOUTH IN ACTION 4.3 Programme in Istanbul (Turkey) in October 2007