How can we encourage adults to enjoy learning, take part in new projects and become more active in their communities? In Madeira, we explored inspiring examples of how creativity, local traditions and cooperation between organisations can help achieve these goals.

In July 2026, a group of adult learners from MTÜ Craft Depo in Narva travelled to Madeira, Portugal, as part of an Erasmus+ group learning mobility. Our host organisation was Associação Multicultural e Criativa Casa dos Amigos in Funchal.

The programme was varied and full of learning opportunities. We visited local educational and community organisations, participated in practical workshops and exchanged experiences with organisers and local residents. We were particularly interested in how organisations attract adults to learning activities, maintain their motivation, build partnerships and involve volunteers.

One unusual discovery was Malai - an eco-friendly material made from coconut industry waste. During a practical workshop, we learned basic hand-stitching techniques and observed how trainers organise activities for people with different levels of experience. We saw how even a simple creative task can encourage communication, new connections and learning from one another.

Interesting Approaches to Organising Events.

A separate part of the programme focused on how local traditions and community initiatives can become the basis for educational activities.

At the Madeira Regional Banana Festival, we studied the organisation of a large event combining exhibitions, cooking workshops, educational demonstrations and local producers. It was interesting to see how municipalities, community organisations and businesses cooperate to create opportunities for visitors not only to discover local traditions but also to gain new knowledge.

Another memorable meeting was with representatives of Carreiros do Monte, who preserve Madeira's famous tradition of downhill rides in wicker toboggans. We discussed how their activities are organised, the role of local residents and how a traditional practice has become one of Madeira's well-known attractions.

We also had valuable experience to share! Craft Depo has been organising the Narva Soapbox Derby - races with homemade non-motorised vehicles - for more than 20 years. This made the discussion particularly engaging: we compared approaches, shared event management experience and discussed ways to involve participants.

New Knowledge and Practical Experience

Throughout the week, we explored adult education from different perspectives. We observed how small creative workshops and large community events are organised, how partnerships are developed and why it is important to consider participants' interests.

Discussions with representatives of local organisations were especially valuable. We exchanged ideas, compared Estonian and Portuguese experiences, explored different approaches to attracting participants and discovered shared interests.

In addition to learning new creative techniques, participants gained a better understanding of event organisation, volunteer involvement and the use of local traditions in educational programmes.

One of the most interesting discoveries was how many different forms adult learning can take. Practical workshops, collaborative projects, meetings with artisans and community initiatives allow people to learn through experience, communication and active participation.

The knowledge and experiences gained have already inspired us to explore new formats for Craft Depo's classes and events, with greater emphasis on cooperation, creativity and active participation by adult learners.

Erasmus+ project number: 2025-1-EE01-KA121-ADU-000328467

The group learning mobility was supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

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