Impact

Connecting for Non-Formal Education 2025 – a Community-Led Event by eematico

The third edition of Connecting for Non-Formal Education 2025, organized by the eematico Association, once again brought together more than 85 participants from across Romania, along with representatives from Croatia, in Bucharest on October 9–10, 2025. Hosted at Nod Makerspace, in a creative and open environment, the conference became a vibrant space for connection and co-creation, where diverse perspectives met in dialogue on how to make non-formal education more relevant, sustainable, and responsive to real community needs.

A community of diverse perspectives with a shared purpose

The event gathered professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. Representatives from NGOs, schools, independent initiatives, public institutions and the entrepreneurial sector attended, all united by the belief that collaborative and experiential learning can transform communities and redefine how we understand non-formal education.

This diversity of experience and perspective made the dialogue rich, authentic, and action-oriented. Professionals from both formal and non-formal education, together with experts in communication, finance, and entrepreneurship, explored how to build a more coherent and sustainable educational ecosystem.

From idea to prototype: four themes, many solutions

The 2025 edition was built around four key themes – addressing both educational and organizational perspectives – developed through a four-month collaborative design process involving education professionals from across Romania. Following three online sessions, the main themes were defined as:

  1. Improve the use of impact evaluation and evidence sharing

  2. Ensure contextual relevance and real-world application

  3. Ensure financial sustainability through diversified models

  4. Communicate the value and benefits of non-formal education effectively

During the event, participants worked in thematic groups over four rounds of collaborative creation, guided by a team of facilitators and guest experts who helped turn ideas into clear directions for action and collaboration in 2026.

Inspiration, creativity, and collaborative energy

Beyond the working sessions, the conference featured inspirational presentations that offered strategic perspectives on impact, quality, and sustainability in education. Speakers shared best practices and practical tools, helping organizations balance vision with resources.

Hands-on bricolage and creative building activities, a hallmark of eematico events, added a practical and symbolic dimension: participants worked together using real tools and materials to build bridges, between ideas, people, and experiences.

Networking and informal dialogue spaces became another source of energy, sparking new collaborations, friendships, and projects that will continue to take shape in the months ahead.

By the end of the two days, participants left with:

  • valuable connections with professionals active in non-formal education in Romania and beyond;

  • concrete ideas and solutions for key sector challenges;

opportunities for collaboration and inspiration for future initiatives.

Family Day – discovering non-formal education together

A new element envisioned for future editions is the opening of the conference to families, through a day dedicated to parents and children. The initiative aims to create a space where they can discover and experience non-formal education firsthand, through play, hands-on activities, and intergenerational collaboration.

The 2025 edition of Connecting for Non-Formal Education once again confirmed that when people passionate about learning come together, bold ideas, lasting collaborations, and shared energy emerge, inspiring the entire community.

The event laid the groundwork for new collaborative processes that will continue in 2026, strengthening an active network of professionals dedicated to advancing non-formal education in Romania and beyond.

Connecting for Non-Formal Education 2025 was not just a conference, but a movement, a space where ideas take shape, people connect, and non-formal education affirms its role as a catalyst for change.

The event was realized with the support and partnership of NGO Academy through the Community Led events Programme as well as with AmpliFY ONG and ANPCDEFP. Other sponsors were:  La Fântâna, Artesana, SlooP Up, BIC, Republica Bio, Cooperativa Rodagria and Nod Makerspace.