THE VALE COURSE 2026

The Value-driven Advanced LEadership (VALE) Course 2026 is a training course for 22 young leaders in the nonprofit sector to focus on developing their leadership skills.

The course is made possible with support from Erasmus+ and Youth For Understanding Norway.

The Idea

Advanced leadership training -
By Youth for Youth

The VALE Course 2026 is a transformative six-week leadership journey for 22 international youth workers and changemakers navigating the challenges of remote leadership.

This unique experience includes two immersive in-person modules. Module 1 will take place in Czechia and Module 2 in the remote Arctic surroundings of Kirkenes, Norway - interwoven with a one-month virtual challenge-based phase.

We invite you to join us on a powerful learning adventure that will deepen your leadership practice, sharpen your skills, and reconnect you with the values that drive your work in youth organisations.

This isn’t just another training - it’s a space to grow, reflect, and lead with clarity across borders, screens, and distance. Whether you’re heading virtual teams or supporting young people in rural communities, this course is designed to help you lead with purpose, wherever you are.

Ready to grow into the leader your community needs? Stay tuned until the call will open in August and apply to begin your journey.

The Activities

And we're back! This time, The VALE 2026 will be two leadership retreat modules in Czechia and Norway.

Confirmation of participation

We will let all selected participants know of their selection by September and aim to have financial matters settled by October 2025.

Preparatory tasks

We will engage participants with mandatory preparatory tasks in the months leading up to the first module to reflect on ideas of leadership and values to kickstart the process.

The first in-person module
January 2026

We will meet in Czechia for an intensive and immersive leadership experience that will challenge participants to re-examine the way they see themselves and the world.

Experimential module

To reinforce learnings, it's time to experiment: try out newly acquired skills at studies, work, and volunteering commitments.

The second in-person module
February 2026

We will meet in Norway to continue our journey together, having gained valuable insights while experimenting.

The follow-up period

Becoming a part of the alumni network and following up on individual action plans for continuous learning.

The Participants

22 young people ready to level up their leadership skills

The target group of The VALE Course 2026 is young volunteer leaders representing a youth organisation. The course strives to have a diverse applicant pool and to have a balanced group of participants in terms of gender, background, and experience.

Please look out for the call for participants for more information, including detailed information about the financial matters.

The Team

By youth, for youth

In addition to being experienced youth workers and leaders in their own right, all trainers (aged 26-32) will be experienced NFE (non-formal education) trainers and facilitators:

Riikka Pasanen (FI)
Trine Tamm (EE)
Tulle Mouridsen (DE)

Talk to us at: contact@thevale.eu

The Funder

The VALE Course 2026 is financially supported by
Erasmus+. Thank you, European Union!