The VALE Course 2025 is a transformative,
six-week leadership programme designed for 25 young (aged 20-35) international leaders in the non-profit sector. This unique journey features two immersive in-person modules – Module 1 in the serene landscapes of France and Module 2 in the vibrant settings of Estonia – taking place in early 2025, with a pivotal one-month long virtual component connecting these experiences.
We aim to bring our participants with us on a profound learning journey to better understand and develop their leadership skills, to help them become more aware, skilled, and value-driven leaders ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.
We’re breaking the mould of traditional leadership training by focusing on deep, impactful learning. This course is designed to challenge you, helping you out of your comfort zone to not only refine your leadership skills but also to gain a profound understanding of the values that drive you.
Ultimately, we seek to empower you to lead with a larger confidence and purpose, both in your volunteer work and in shaping the broader world around you.
Are you ready to level up your leadership?
Apply now and begin your journey!
"We’re breaking the mould of traditional leadership training by focusing on deep, impactful learning."
In-person module in France 19–23 FEB 2025
Distance-learning 24 FEB–23 MAR 2025
In-person module in Estonia 24–29 MAR 2025
This course may be for you, if you...
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have been in a leadership position before and are hungry to sharpen your edge
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have non-profit experience and are ready to take your impact to the next level
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are driven by a 🔥 for self-development and are ready to fan the flames
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believe that true growth happens on the edge of comfort, where leaps into uncertainty lead to the greatest discoveries
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believe that challenges, much like the weather, are an opportunity to prove your resilience – and that effective leaders aren’t deterred by a little ☔.
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welcome the chance to be self-reflective and introspective, knowing that true leadership starts with understanding yourself
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embrace the power of shared experiences in a larger group setting, where the intensive 5-6 days together will fuel both personal and collective breakthroughs.
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are prepared to have your perspectives shaken and see the 🌏 with new eyes, even if it means the ground beneath you feels a bit unstable at times
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understand the powerful connection between being an effective leader for yourself and an effective leader for others
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believe that you get what you give – and you're committed to putting in the effort to shape an unforgettable course
What you will learn
Throughout the course, you’ll uncover different facets of leadership and what it’ll mean for you moving forward. Upon completion of the course, you’ll be ready to lead with conviction, making a lasting impact on your community and beyond.
Here are some of the things we’ll cover:
Learn to align your actions with your values, manage defence mechanisms, and set the standard for those around you
Integrate your core beliefs into your leadership style, ensuring every decision reflects who you are
Develop the ability to convey ideas clearly, navigate tough conversations with confidence, and provide feedback that drives positive growth
Discover how to tap into what drives people and keep your team energised and focused
Turn disagreements into opportunities for growth, fostering a collaborative environment
Understand the subtle forces within a team and lead with fairness and integrity
Create inclusive environments where every voice is heard and valued
Adapt your approach to connect with and lead a wide variety of personalities
Build habits that sustain your leadership, ensuring you continue to grow and lead with purpose
"I would recommend this course because I was able to connect with so many inspiring youth leaders from so many different countries. The VALE was an incredible experience and I wish I could do it again."
Miriam, our 2023 course participant
from Germany
Methodology
At The VALE, we believe that real leadership growth happens when learning is immersive, continuous, and reflective. Our course is designed to go beyond traditional methods, creating an experience where learning happens in every moment — not just during the sessions. We have designed a multi-stage structure with two in-person modules and a remote learning period in between, allowing our participants to apply their new skills in real-world settings and then return to the course with deeper insights.
Our methods are diverse, dynamic, and hands-on. You’ll experience a mix of challenges, simulations, role plays, outdoor education, and peer-to-peer learning. We believe that deep, personal reflection happens best in intimate settings, where you can connect with others, share experiences, and develop trust while individual reflection and group discussions help solidify the lessons you’ll carry forward. Our aim is to make learning an active process, where growth is not linear but layered, evolving through practice, feedback, and interactions with others.
Ultimately, our methodology is about helping you grow as a leader by creating space for both personal reflection and collective breakthroughs. We believe that leadership is shaped by experience and reflection, and our course is designed to give you both in equal measure.
Course structure breakdown
Pre-course
Preparatory period JAN-FEB. We will engage you with mandatory preparatory tasks to reflect on your ideas of leadership and values to kickstart the process.
Mission: France
19-23 FEB 2025. The first four-day will take place outside Lyon, France. Laying the groundwork for what the course will be about and getting to know who else signed up.
Distance learning
24 FEB–23 MAR 2025. Home assignments and trying out learnings from the first module in the daily life. It reinforces takeaways, acts as a real-world laboratory to try out things in practise before we meet up again.
Mission: Estonia
24-29 MAR 2025. Taking it to the next level. The second in-person course module will take place outside of Tallinn, Estonia. It will raise the bar for the participants in terms of content.
Follow-up
APRIL–JUNE 2025. Multiplier workshops in 15+ countries. Once back in their home countries, participants will lead leadership-themed workshops in their local communities, engaging, inspiring and educating members of their community.
The journey as a member of The VALE Alumni community will begin.
Participant profile
Who are we looking for?
The target group of The VALE is young volunteer leaders representing a youth organisation, such as Youth for Understanding. The course strives to have a diverse applicant pool and to have a balanced group of participants in terms of gender, background, and experience.
When assessing the applications, we'll be looking at the following selection criteria:
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aged 20-35
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strong motivation to learn about leadership and develop themselves
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previous leadership experience(s), preferably in leading large and diverse groups of people
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experience within the non-profit, either as a volunteer or employee
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demonstrates a commitment to self-reflection and readiness to take on a challenging journey for self-improvement
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shows a strong interest in taking on future leadership roles and being a leader of tomorrow
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strong motivation to use these new-found competencies to act as multipliers in their local organisations and leadership contexts
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able to attend the full duration of the training modules in-person, including completing online preparatory tasks, interim distance learning period with home assignments & commit to doing a follow-up workshop
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able to confidently work in English
Financial considerations
We have tried to be as clear as possible. If you have any questions, send an email to contact@thevale.eu.
There are two fees that relate to the course. The first is a confirmation fee, which all participants are asked to pay after they've been selected to confirm their participation in the course. The second is a participation fee, which applies only to those participants who do not have a sponsored spot.
CONFIRMATION FEE
The course has a mandatory confirmation fee. The amount depends on your country of residence and is calculated based on the Erasmus+ daily support allowance in 2024. The fee will be a one-time payment of the suitable daily allowance times one and a half (x1.5) – a minimum of 86 euros and a maximum of 149 euros per participant. You will be asked to pay this fee when confirming your attendance in the course. The fee is non-refundable. By paying this fee, you confirm your full participation in the course.
PARTICIPATION FEE
The course has a participation fee that is applied to participants without an Erasmus+ sponsored spot. When applying for the course, you will be asked if you reside in one of our partner countries, which are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Türkiye. For each partner country we have reserved at least one participant spot supported by Erasmus+. For these sponsored spots, the participation fee and travel costs to both in-person course modules are fully covered by the Erasmus+ grant.
Participants who are not residents of a partner country and/or do not receive a sponsored spot, may choose another way of covering their participation fee and travels, if they want to participate in the course. This could be covering the fee themselves, or asking an employer or another organisation for support. The course organisers are happy to support in writing a letter of acceptance or recommendation for seeking sponsorships to make participation possible.
The participation fee is 500 euros per participant. It covers the cost of travel to both in-person modules as well as accommodation and meals. It is separate from the confirmation fee.
GENERAL CONDITIONS & CANCELLATION POLICY
Local travel in the home country is generally covered by the participant (e.g. home to bus station or airport). Long-distance travels will be booked by the organisers and not the participant unless specifically otherwise agreed. The VALE will not reimburse any costs to participants without prior and explicit agreement.
If you are selected to attend the course, you will be asked to confirm your attendance by paying the confirmation fee. If you cancel your participation, the confirmation fee will not be reimbursed.
The participation fee may be reimbursed for cancellations by 19 December 2024 (two months before the first in-person module). After that, the fee may be only reimbursed if the organisers are able to find a replacement for the cancelled spot and there are no costs incurred due to pre-booked travels etc. Participants covered by Erasmus+ grant may be asked to pay for costs incurred due to a late cancellation without a Force Majeure cause.
"I think, what surprised me the most was me, myself. That the VALE is creating an environment where I am comfortable challenging my own beliefs."
Konstantin, our 2023 course participant
from Germany
Meet our trainers
All our trainers have considerable experience in non-formal education methodology.
Innovation enthusiast
Neuropsychology expert
Advisor on Youth
Data wizard
Communication guru
Cultural interpreter
The trainer team for our 2025 course is a dynamic group of six professionals with diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for shaping the leaders of tomorrow. The shared background that all six share is an array of leadership positions, often volunteer-based in non-profits & other non-governmental organisations. All of us have once been young leaders people in demanding positions with little to no leadership training offered to us. That’s how The VALE was born, and that brings us together.
Our 2025 trainer line-up is:
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Erik is an innovation enthusiast, is the strategic thinker who keeps us all on our toes. His love for AI and background in Sociotechnical Systems Engineering make him a powerhouse of ideas and energy. 🇸🇪
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Louisa is the team’s cognitive science and linguistics expert, currently pursuing a PhD while teaching psychology. Her love for nature, vegan cooking, and interactive learning methods make her a truly well-rounded trainer. 🇩🇪
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Riikka is our go-to expert on youth, democracy, and institutions, thanks to her high-level advocacy work and strong facilitation experience. She’s the embodiment of leading with kindness and grace, and always up for a thoughtful conversation. 🇫🇮
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Konstantin is our resident data wizard, combining his PhD research in bioinformatics with a passion for music, cooking, and programming. He’s as comfortable with statistics as he is with a musical score or a new recipe. 🇩🇪
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Ieva is our organisational communication guru, balancing her corporate career with a love for the great outdoors. Whether she’s leading a training session or hiking a new trail, Ieva’s warmth and humour are always front and centre. 🇱🇹
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Eli is a professional in building bridges (a.k.a. interpreter fluent in German, Japanese and English) and brings her expertise in intercultural communication to the team, along with a deep commitment to inclusivity and diversity. She’s spent over a decade breaking down barriers and building understanding through workshops for youth and professionals. 🇩🇪
At The VALE, we believe in learning by doing, leading by example, and, most importantly, having a good time while we’re at it. Our trainers are not just here to teach—they’re here to inspire, support, and cheer you on every step of the way. So, if you’re ready to dive into an unforgettable experience, learn from the best, and join a community that’s all about making a difference, you’ve come to the right place.
Get ready to be challenged, inspired, and, above all, to have fun with a team that’s as dedicated to your growth as you are. We can’t wait to meet you!
QUESTIONS? Do not hesitate chat with us via email: contact@thevale.eu
Table of Confirmation Fees
PARTNER COUNTRIES
Austria 126 euros
Belgium 132 euros
Czechia 98 euros
Denmark 143 euros
Estonia 114 euros
Finland 140 euros
France 128 euros
Germany 116 euros
Hungary 116 euros
Norway 141 euros
Spain 122 euros
Sweden 131 euros
Türkiye 102 euros
OTHER COUNTRIES
Bulgaria 90 euros
Croatia 113 euros
Cyprus 122 euros
Greece 120 euros
Iceland 149 euros
Ireland 137 euros
Italy 128 euros
Latvia 99 euros
Liechtenstein 126 euros
Lithuania 98 euros
Luxembourg 126 euros
Malta 116 euros
Netherlands 138 euros
North Macedonia 86
Poland 102 euros
Portugal 117 euros
Romania 96 euros
Serbia 89 euros
Slovakia 101 euros
Slovenia 117 euros
If your country of residence is not marked in here, you can still contact us by email and we will look into an appropriate confirmation fee amount for you.