Who are we?
First of all, people. All with a lot of energy and desire to bring innovation to non-formal education and beyond. We want to bring change in the way young people look at education in general. We care about learning, growing and making a real difference in our communities.
Are you ready to meet us virtually? ⤵️
Vlad Grigoraș
Founder, Strategy Architect, Development MasterVlad Grigoraș
Hi, I’m Vlad, I brand myself “fulfilled” that I am a seer of ideas and have the ability to connect them in a way that I can materialise those with my colleagues. Materialise those for co-creating a great world that we all want to live in. I am a “walk the talk” person and i follow this though ever since being able to walk. In the last ten years though, I started to live “walking my talk” and it lead me to start iEL.
My compass leads me to creating a state of flow space for us being inside, and all other people we impact.
Medeea Nămoloșanu
Full Time Mommy, Art Fairy, Project Coordinator, MentorMedeea Nămoloșanu
Hello! I’m Medeea, and I’m currently a full-time mother. I have a very cute and smiley little girl who is extremely curious and loves to explore everything around her.
Before the best period of my life began, I was the one making sure that everything visual in the organisation brought joy. Now, I am exploring with my little girl a new universe of possibilities and discoveries, where every day is an opportunity to learn and create, together with my daughter.
Andreea Hărătău
Admin Pillar & Project ManagerAndreea Hărătău
Heyo, Andreea here, a constant source of smiles, full of enthusiasm and positivity, no matter where we are: at a café, in a random airport or at our headquarters in Brașov. I love challenges, I am open to new things, I adapt to unforeseen situations and I like to be helpful.
I could say I’m the know-it-all of the organization: today I’m doing admin work, tomorrow I’m planning and implementing projects, and next week we might meet at a social event. I am in love with beauty, and passionate about photography, writing and music. Day dreamer, go-getter, always looking for solutions to any challenge.
Claudiu Pavel
Visual AlchemistClaudiu Pavel
Hello! I am Claudiu, both a psychiatrist and a graphic designer, guided by the depths of the human mind and the power of compassion. I create visual stories that resonate, where creativity and intuition blend harmoniously. I’m an avid reader and strategist, which is why I find peace in books and chess.
I am passionate about skiing, swimming, cycling and jogging – testaments to resilience and the strength of the human spirit. Travel enriches my perspective, and SpaceX launches fuel my boundless curiosity.
At the intersection of my roles and passions, I weave empathy, creativity and understanding. I navigate the complexities of existence and strive to bring light and spark insights into the world.
Veronica Niste
Human Resources & CoachingVeronica Niste
Greetings!
I’m Vera and I’m in charge of HR and coaching in our association.
I am passionate about non-formal education and I love to support initiatives in this field, creating opportunities for personal and professional development of team colleagues and volunteers.
I enjoy exploring the mysteries of the human mind and soul, and quantum physics fascinates me deeply.
I find inspiration in these fields and apply the knowledge in my work to help people reach their full potential.
In my spare time, I love to read about the latest discoveries in psychology and quantum physics, listen to jazz and enjoy nature on long walks.
Cosmin Dobre
European Lead by Nature Network Community ManagerCosmin Dobre
Morning! I’m Cosmin, and I’m in charge of the youth community of the European Lead by Nature Network (ELNN) project, on the Engagement side. I am passionate about guitar, traveling, learning about other cultures and photography. I love non-formal education, which is why I volunteer at any festival I catch. When I’m not at work or at university (I’m studying Electrical Engineering in Brașov), I explore the world in search of the most peaceful places on Earth.
Coco
European Lead by Nature Network Community ManagerCoco
Morning, I’m Coco, I’m 20 years old and I’m a student at the Polytechnical University of Cluj Napoca. At Innovation Education Lab, I coordinate the Marketing volunteers of the European Lead by Nature Network project, and I also take care of the technical side of the international community we have on Discord.
In my spare time, I enjoy programming, reading, doing sports activities, speaking in French and listening to music. I explore human psychology and complexity, turn my travels into adventures, constantly challenge myself and create innovative systems for daily efficiency, that help me tackle even more ambitious goals.
Ștefania Pasăre
Erasmus+ Selection SpecialistȘtefania Pasăre
Hello! I’m Ștefania. Within the organisation, I am currently in charge of selecting participants for Erasmus+ Learning Experiences, throwing “confetti” at them via emails (thank goodness it happens in the virtual world, otherwise who would clean up the mess?).
In my personal life, I can boast that I have a lot of creative hobbies: writing, painting, playing games, but I also like to consider myself active, so I go running, hiking, and skiing in the winter…
I can’t wait to meet you, to see what fantastic country I can send you to. 🙂
Claudiu Bungeag
Project manager & Certified ScrumMasterClaudiu Bungeag
Hi!
I’m Claudiu, project manager and Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®), specialized in the coordination of EU/EC funded projects such as EuropeAid, Horizonte 2020 and Horizon Europe.
With a solid legal background and experience in managing H2020 programs, I have been living in Barcelona since 2008.
I love challenges and am dedicated to turning ideas into reality through a strategic and results-oriented approach.
Flexibility and adaptability are my strengths, allowing me to maintain a positive atmosphere and collaborate effectively to implement impactful projects.
?
Coming SoonComing Soon
This is a reserved place for our new team member
Remus Iosifescu
Volunteers ManagerRemus Iosifescu
Remus at the mic! I discovered Erasmus+ projects and non-formal education after a journey of finding my place in this world. I fell hopelessly in love with the power that such activities have in helping people discover and develop skills that school doesn’t address. Now and here, I’m in charge with the international volunteers and their agenda of activities.
With the help of the Erasmus+, CES and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programmes, I have travelled, volunteered for 10 months, learned about permaculture, made connections, facilitated activities and projects, realised what I am good at, loved, gone through crises, learned to say “no”, grown and continue to grow.
Timeea Schill
Marketing AssistantTimeea Schill
Ciao! The undersigned aka Tim, Timuca, an enthusiast kid, I’m pleased to meet you and want to tell you that: I like to laugh, a lot; I love to create – feelings, experiences, visuals in Canva, etc..; I have a twin sister but we look different, friends like I hope you’ll find and I feed myself through the people around me; I’m just starting out, I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, just helping people and having fun (if it involves exploring the globe all the better).
I currently let my iEL colleagues amaze me with their good projects and vibe.
Chimene Medlej
Marketing ManagerChimene Medlej
My communications journey has been an enriching adventure spanning over 15 years, operating and serving multiple countries and industries.
My professional journey has afforded me the opportunity to contribute to numerous successful campaigns and projects in the business world, and while I’m proud of the accolades I’ve earned along the way, what truly resonates with me are the invaluable lessons learned and relationships formed across borders that have led me to embark on a transformative journey in social work with an international tinge and a growth-oriented mindset.
If you’re witty and funny, you’re one step closer to being my friend!
Currently, we spend most of our time in Brașov and its surroundings (when not travelling all over Europe).
We have a very nice place, somewhere near the Citadel, where we feel like home. We called it the Nonformal Education Lab because that’s what we do: we build non-formal learning experiences that make a real impact on the development and well-being of young people.
Most of the time, we spend time with YOUth in our Youth Lab (the room next to the office where we host all sorts of learning experiences).
Vision
We dream of a world where people of all ages feel personally and professionally fulfilled, and are ready to make positive changes in their communities.
Mission
To achieve our dream, we are constantly working on creating experiential learning contexts (learning stuff while doing it, for real) where you can grow both personally and professionally.
More specifically, we accompany and support you on your journey towards personal and professional fulfilment, whatever that means for you.
How exactly do we do this?
We give you access to innovative and impactful tools, methods, and interventions that will change the way you look at education and learning.
We help you develop your creative skills and align with the digital and technological demands of the job market, so you’re always ready for the opportunities that arise.
We support your process of enriching your emotional well-being, so that you can live a happier and more fulfilled life.
We use visual arts, theatre, film, dance, and literature, as a means of personal growth and healing.
We encourage you to cultivate your sense of initiative and entrepreneurship to reach your full potential and achieve your dreams.
Approach
We look at education as a whole and at the same time understand that each of us learns differently. That’s why we use a variety of learning methods and practices.
At the same time, we know that education doesn’t just happen in classrooms, but in every corner of life, from nature to the interactions we have every day with the people around us. Basically, from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, we are learning.
So we take a holistic approach to everything we do, based on the five elements of Taoist practice. These elements are our pillars of strength and represent all the areas we explore in our work, and which guide our vision about education.
iEL pillars
EARTH
Personal development
The EARTH symbolises the area of Personal Development and represents our inner foundation, from self-awareness to soft and financial skills. A solid foundation of personal knowledge allows us to navigate life’s challenges with confidence. Your personal development is essential. From mindfulness to mentoring, we’re here to support you.
FIRE
Professional development
Professional growth is symbolized by Fire, because it illustrates very well the passion and ambition to advance in one’s career by developing practical skills: from knowing how to write your CV to what you post on the internet and how to put yourself in a good light through your every day actions. In an ever-changing world, it is essential to be able to adapt and evolve continuously. We help you grow professionally, develop your skills, and grow your network in a healthy way.
WATER
Inclusion and Diversity
WATER stands for Inclusion and Diversity. It represents fluidity and the ability to accept and embrace diversity, which can greatly enrich our experiences and make us more empathetic. To us, every voice counts, regardless of colour, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or favourite football team.
WOOD
Research and Innovation
Research and innovation is the area of continuous exploration of new methods and approaches in education, and WOOD stands as its symbol. We constantly research and seek to innovate the methods we use in working with people, because innovation allows us to stay relevant and offer solutions that are adapted to today’s needs.
METAL
Sustainable Impact
METAL is the element that symbolises sustainability, long-term planning and creating a positive impact. We want to leave a lasting legacy and, at the same time, ensure that our actions have a long-term positive effect.
Values
GROWTH
We empower people to constantly grow, make an impact, become more aware of the world around them and achieve their goals.
INNOVATION
We nurture curiosity, creativity and concrete action to develop transformational education methods.
SUSTAINABLE IMPACT
We want to have a long-term impact. To do this, we use our resources responsibly and want every action we take to add value.
COOPERATION
We believe that together we can have more impact. It is essential to collaborate with organisations from as diverse a range of knowledge areas as possible, and work together to transform our communities.
RESPONSIBILITY
We act with integrity and ethics, produce genuine results, and are dedicated to changing education and society for the better.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
With us, everyone is welcome! We are constantly working to create a community where everyone feels seen and heard regardless of age, background or profile.
SOLIDARITY
We encourage mutual support, active listening, sincere collaboration, and the promotion of unity in diversity. Solidarity helps us to be united, and every gesture counts.
ADAPTABILITY
We are connected and constantly adapting to the ever-changing environment and society.
Methods used
With each workshop and project facilitated, we are adding more and more non-formal learning methods to our baggage.
We do everything non-formally, because it is essential that you are at the centre of the learning process. Depending on the activity and the needs of the participants, we put together different methods to build relevant and impactful learning experiences.
Here are some of them, which we use frequently in our activities.
Creativity and mindfulness
We use art in order to explore our inner selves and become more aware of ourselves and those around us.
Participatory research
We give you access to innovative and impactful tools, methods, and interventions that will change the way you look at education and learning.
Interactive games
We explore new concepts through play and develop our life, entrepreneurial, digital, and sustainability skills.
Experiential learning in nature
We organise outdoor activities such as hiking and camping to learn about nature through first-hand experience.
Reflection groups
After each activity we have, we discuss as a group to reflect on the experience and lessons learned.
Numbers
What 2023 looked like for us
learning experiences
22 international learning experiences, including 3 hosted by us
C 400 applicants and 120 selected participants
countries
We have travelled to 13 countries
events
45+ events in Brasov and surroundingsof which 12 workshops in high schools
young people
600+ young people participated in our activities in Brasov in the last year
We trained 30+ youth workers
Organizations organizations
Institutions partners
Companies supporting us
Funding
