Youth Education Program, Norway
- December 24, 2015
- Posted by: Pincus Fund Staff
- Category: Informal Education

The Jewish community of Oslo’s project was a learning program which culminated in an educational trip to Spain in February 2013, and a visit to Eastern Europe in the winter of 2014. Study sessions and seminars prior to each trip served as preparation for it.
Participants were divided into 3 groups, each responsible for one subject area: Jewish History of Spain (or Eastern Europe), Jewish Culture of Spain (or Eastern Europe), and Politics of Spain (or Eastern Europe). All of the participants met together for 10 sessions, each extending for 3-4 hours, during the course of the year prior to the trip. Each group was responsible for conducting a learning session, lecture, or workshop on its subject area, for each of the 10 sessions.
The content of each session was comprised of five parts: (1) participants’ preparation for their presentation to the group; (2) presentation of the material prepared; (3) guest speakers; (4) a film or field trip; (5) planning for the educational trip.
Much of the time devoted by the teenagers to preparation of presentations took place during the course of the meetings. Between sessions, 5 madrichim who work on the project as volunteers provided further help to the teenagers to prepare for their presentations. Also between sessions, participants worked in person and/or via the internet in small groups of 2 or 3, to complete tasks assigned by the madrichim. Each participant was required to take part in at least 2 meetings between the 10 plenary sessions.
Madrichim also conducted learning sessions on various topics for the entire group. Experts from an institution in Israel guided and supervised the learning of the students, and the work of the madrichim.
The project included a weekend seminar conducted at the community’s cabin. Participants also took part in 2 one-day Mini-Seminars in the community’s cabin outside Oslo. In order to participate in the trip to Spain (or Eastern Europe), students were required to attend both the weekend Seminar and the two Mini-Seminars, as well as at least 8 of the 10 preparatory sessions.
The teenagers were responsible for planning the trip to Spain (or Eastern Europe) themselves, including the route, the guiding, and logistics. After their return home, participants presented their experiences during the trip, as well as what they learned about themselves, at various community events.