EAST

European Academy of Strategic Training and Business

About EAST

EAST is a local organization, established in 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia, working mainly with youth and also (young) adults. After being an informal group for 3 years and working on a local level with youth of all ages and backgrounds, EAST became a legal entity, with the aim of reaching our goals more efficiently and expanding building upon our already established frames. Our main mission is to help youth and (young) adults achieve their full potential, both professionally and personally, by supporting them in their adulthood transition and the entry into work life to become active citizens who can make a change and who are a positive force in society. In order to achieve our goals, we work at the local, regional, and European levels to gather an even larger team of people who want to help young people enter the complicated world of adulthood and provide them with guidance and support in their development. Through non-formal education and by partnering internationally, we offer them opportunities to learn about inclusivity, employment, sustainability, civic participation, mental health, and human rights.

Main objectives

Guiding and supporting young people in their personal and professional development

Providing high-quality training and education
Non-formal learning as a main method of development
Making young people active members of society
Expanding the knowledge on topics such as inclusivity, sustainability, human rights, etc.
Acceptance of intercultural environment, multilingualism, and cultural differences.

Main target group

Our initiatives primarily benefit young individuals and youth aged 14 to 30 from a wide range of backgrounds. We create a melting pot of cultures by bringing together a diverse group including local residents, Europeans, refugees, students from other countries, foreigners, migrants, and more. This rich tapestry of different cultures is fundamental to the enriching experience of our learning and training programs, which take place in an environment that is both multicultural and welcoming, celebrating our diverse backgrounds. Our focus is particularly on engaging rural youth and students who have faced challenges in their educational journey, such as low academic performance. Our goal is to understand the unique learning obstacles these groups encounter and to offer tailored support.

Pillars

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

Non-formal education is a crucial part of our strategy, because with it, we manage to develop new approaches and methods that will ensure young people with necessary skills and competencies for their growth.
INTERNATIONAL MOBILITES

With different international partnerships and cooperations, we want to show the youth how enriching and powerful is the experience of learning and training in an environment that is multicultural and welcoming, an environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds.
PRACTICAL TRAINING

With our training and activities, we are equipping youngsters with integrity and leadership, and building their self-confidence while doing practices in the fields of peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, non-violent communication, critical thinking, and empowerment.

Projects Gallery

Local activities

INTERCULTURAL KITCHEN

This is our special kind of makerspace where (young) people from different cultures come together to organize a cooking evening from a specific culture and organize cultural talks around it. These cooking events provide space to talk about customs, traditions, religions, and history, in addition to fund activities and delicious food.

GAME NIGHTS

We believe that learning and bonding over fun and engaging activities, such as evenings that are filled with a variety of board games, has a huge educational role in helping youngsters learn more about social issues such as political participation, environment, human rights, etc. Because of that, game nights play a huge part in our local activities, showing everyone how education can actually be fun!

SPEED NETWORKING

Social events that are offering an exciting platform for members and non-members to meet and connect with like-minded individuals. While they are sharing their own experiences, they are also learning from one another, making it a significant experience. Each session is organized in a fast-paced, fun format, allowing youth to engage in quick, yet meaningful conversations.