In the work with teenagers, we see a lot of beautiful things, but as well a lot of issues that teenagers are struggling with. They are growing up in a world which can be messy and in which it is hard to make the right choices or find out their identity.

Guidance is missing and many times safety is missing as well! Many of them are growing up with violence, bullying is happening at every school, alcohol, smoking, using drugs or wrong relationships are easy to go to, as an escape from this hard world, where ‘a safe home’ is missing.

The workshop ‘Make a Step’ is identifying those issues and is helping teenagers to be able to share and connect together. The workshop is an answer for many of those teenagers, where they are able to see that they are not alone, that they are beloved and they do matter in this world! Also, that they can make a next step in order to grow and get healed, if needed.’Make a Step’ is challenging and helps them to make the next step in their life. This is what ‘Make a Step’ literally has done already, for many teenagers!

The time that is needed for this workshop is about 2 hours, which can be extended. In those hours we are creating the right atmosphere and safety for the teenagers and let them adjust and feel comfortable. The activities range from having a lot of fun towards being serious and going into deep conversation. It is about who we really are, not about how we pretend or think we are. It is about reality, real connection and real life! We have seen that during this workshop, teenagers are opening up and willing to share. They connect better, they open their eyes more and more for the real world and they even connect better with leaders or vice versa.

Teenagers have shown up with issues that they need help with, what the school did not identify in years! Teenages were finally able to ask for help, from ‘an ear to listen’ to counseling sessions. Also, we have seen that there are teenagers who changed their mind positively about commiting suicide.

The workshop is a step towards a stronger identity for every individual and a stronger group bond. This makes it possible to grow, to heal and helps the teenager to have even more positive impact in their own area, where they live, simply because of the fact they see others suffering or they see their own problem not as bad as the others and their perspective changes. Also, shame is decreasing!

The workshop works if there is good cooperation with the leaders of the group, either the school or a local youth group. It works with a number of teenagers, roughly between 20/30 up to approximate 90, if a proper space is provided.

We do a lot of interaction, in order to challenge the youth stepping out of their comfort zone. This is done by some little exercises for which the positive effect has been proven, but also by the example we try to give as a team.

Practical good cooperation is necessary in order to be well prepared but also to handle the aftercare, so that the teenagers will be safe, if any hard issue is coming up.

From the experience we had so far, we have seen the need in Romania! This can be a key in order to reach the youth on their heart level and functions as a connection between ‘problem and solution’.

This workshop is highly recommended by different staff members of the schools who have attended this workshop already..

(((It is good to mention that the workshop is a social workshop, not necessarily ‘evangelism’ in the strict meaning of the word. Although we would like to see it as ‘living the practical gospel’, there the workshop ‘teaches’ biblical principles. In this way we are able to reach out to non-christian schools and groups as well! It would be good to be ‘a part of a network’ with other organizations who can share the gospel by words, where ‘Make a Step’ is more focused on social needs!))) Reviews:

From students:

https://youtu.be/OrhnMAWWAmE?feature=shared

From leaders:

https://youtu.be/lRPzYl6aeDU https://youtu.be/qtZPOaLmHFs https://youtu.be/CrnDWytkSrg https://youtu.be/t2CnRKpie64 https://youtu.be/3gG-4mnF75M https://youtu.be/PqsGhJXDsrQ