8th Erasmus+ Mobility: Our Learners Bring New Perspectives on Inclusion Home from Bad Kösen 

The Konrad-Martin-Haus: a "folk high school" in Bad Kösen

The training “Intercultural Learning, Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment” took place at the Konrad-Martin-Haus, in Bad Kösen, a town in the Naumburg region. 

The institution is an adult education centre inspired by the Danish folk high school model, the so-called “people’s high schools”, a form of non-formal education that originated in 19th-century Denmark, with no exams or academic diplomas, designed for adults who want to learn through shared experience, community living and dialogue, typically in a short-term residential format. 

This model is built on the idea that the most meaningful learning happens outside traditional school settings, through dialogue, civic participation and community life. Following this philosophy, the Konrad-Martin-Haus develops activities aimed at strengthening social and democratic skills, working in partnership with local organisations in the areas of inclusion, education for democracy and the empowerment of different community groups.

The programme: from Käthe Kruse's biography to community networks

Over three days, the group from the Lisbon City Foundation got to know the history and values of the host institution up close, and took part in hands-on activities on European values. 

One of the central moments of the training was work on the biography of Käthe Kruse, a European pioneer in handcrafted doll-making, used as a starting point to reflect on processes of empowerment and disempowerment for women throughout life. 

The group also visited local organisations such as the Familienbildungsstätte in Naumburg, which supports women who have recently migrated to Germany, and the municipal library, an example of how informal learning can serve the whole community. 

The programme also included a visit to Naumburg Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a walk around Bad Kösen highlighting the history of women in the region. 

The context: the AprendEU II project

This mobility is part of the objectives of the AprendEU II project, which aims to build the capacity of Fundação Cidade de Lisboa’s staff and learners through courses undertaken via mobility in other European countries. 

What we brought back from this mobility?

One participant noted that the experience “strengthened my communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills”, helping her feel “more confident communicating with people from different backgrounds” and to use “storytelling, educational materials and creativity” in learning activities. 

Another participant said the mobility gave her “new ideas” about applying these approaches in educational and community contexts, drawing on prior professional experience alongside approaches to inclusion, empowerment and active citizenship. 

Asked to define this mobility, the group chose terms such as “empowering, inspiring, intercultural”, a summary that captures the spirit of these three days in Bad Kösen well.