Unlocking Potential: How Non-Formal Education Transforms Rural Youth

Blog post written by Miles Spooner

I recently had the chance to be part of an incredible training course, "From Rural to Plural: The Power of Non-Formal Education in Rural Areas," thanks to TDM2000 Malta. Over eight days, we explored the impact of non-formal education in rural communities, diving into creative ways to engage and empower young people in these areas.

The goal was simple but powerful: find innovative methods to inspire and support rural youth. Through various tools, methodologies, and hands-on activities, we looked at how interactive workshops can foster confidence, spark innovation, and amplify young voices.

From the very first day, it was clear that building trust among participants would be key to making the most of this experience. We kicked things off with team-building activities, setting group expectations, and discussing individual contributions. This strong foundation made learning and collaboration throughout the course much more effective and enjoyable.

We then dove into the different educational approaches—formal, informal, and nonformal—engaging in lively debates about their strengths and limitations. Exploring key theories like Kolb’s Experiential Learning Styles, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and Edgar Dale’s Cone of Learning helped us understand how to adapt teaching styles to suit different needs.

A major highlight was planning our own non-formal education activities. Working in small groups, we designed training programs tailored to rural youth, using tools like Belbin’s Team Roles to understand group dynamics. We also tackled inclusivity, distinguishing between equality and equity to ensure our activities were accessible to everyone, regardless of background.

One of the more creative sessions focused on graphic facilitation—learning how to make flipcharts more engaging through visuals. This was a game-changer, showing how simple illustrations can enhance learning and retention. That evening, we put our skills to the test by creating flipcharts based on articles we wrote, mine being about mental health and well-being in rural youth areas.

Games played a big role in our learning process too. We explored how they can be powerful educational tools, choosing and designing games that cater to different learning objectives. A particularly fun challenge was designing a treasure hunt for another group, which brought out both our creativity and teamwork skills.

As the course progressed, we practiced participatory engagement techniques like street debates, world cafés, and forum theatre. We even had the opportunity to facilitate a session ourselves, choosing a game from The Compass, a guide for structured group activities. My group led "Draw the Word," a game that encouraged learning human rights terms through drawing, which turned out to be both fun and insightful.

Towards the end of the course, we tackled some of the real challenges youth workers face in rural areas and discussed the European Youth Village concept. We also participated in an NGO Fair, where I had the chance to learn about other organizations and share the work of TDM2000 Malta, which plays a crucial role in fostering youth engagement locally and internationally.

Looking back, I’m beyond grateful for this experience. The facilitators and TDM2000 Malta created an environment where learning felt engaging, dynamic, and deeply relevant. Youth participation is essential for a thriving society, and opportunities like this help us become more aware of global issues that might not be as visible in our own communities.

Beyond the knowledge gained, this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me develop teamwork and facilitation skills, and gave me tools to better use both digital and graphic resources. The people I met and the memories I made will stay with me for a long time, and I’d highly recommend a program like this to anyone passionate about making an impact. Initially, I was a bit nervous about joining, but with the support of my fellow participants and the organizers, this turned out to be an unforgettable journey.