We all learn from our experiences. We try, feel, observe, create new ideas and try again. Whether we are aware or not, we are in a continuous cycle in our lifelong learning process.
We call this cycle “experiential learning cycle”. We believe that the training programs which is prepared through this approach have a great impact. How do we know?
From ourselves.
When we first met training programs which is prepared through experiential learning methodology, an apple fell on our heads as well. We have seen in ourselves how powerful the game is in raising personal awareness, and that critical thinking and empathy skills are the most fundamental competencies, and all these can only be learned by doing-living.
We first see change in ourselves. We believed that we should expand and develop this human-oriented learning method which touches our lives. We set out to share the story of the apple which fell on our heads.
Since that day we have been experiencing, creating experiences and sharing experiences.
We are working for disseminating experiential learning in all areas of education and learning.
We aim to become a global resource centre where theoretical and practical studies are combined in the field of experiential learning.
We are an NGO;
Which works right-based
Which is open to cooperation
Which is prioritizing the culture of democracy
Which is accountable
Which puts experience in the centre
Which designs from bottom to up
Everything started with the story of several young people who came together in a student club in Eskisehir Osmangazi University between 2006-2008.
In that period, it was the years when Turkey joined the EU Youth Programs as a program country.
The young team had the opportunity to participate in the EU Youth Projects and to see the youth work in different countries closely after the first EU Youth Exchange Project held in Eskisehir.
It was their first acquaintance with non-formal education and experiential learning.
The young team, who had been active in European youth work for three years, had started to be trainer in local and international programs. They wanted to do something for the further dissemination of experiential learning.
They imagined an education centre. A centre that learns, grows more as it learns and shares more. Finally, on April 13, 2009, they took the first step of a long journey.
DeM Experiential Training Centre was established in Eskisehir.
DeM has begun to develop its capacity and started to play a more active role in education and youth programs since its establishment.
DeM moved to Istanbul…
The DeM journey first started in 2006 with the work of a university student club.
In 2014, university student clubs were established under the roof of DeM by a group of young people whose were university students. The young team, who founded DeM student clubs first in Marmara University and later in Medipol University, launched DeM Youth Network.
In 2016, DeM organized its first unique Training of Trainers Program. 15 teachers and 15 trainers were given a long-term training that included synthesis of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Outcomes of practices in formal education and non-formal education were shared in the Experiential Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the first book published by DeM.
Together with the new trainers participating into the DeM journey, DeMGÂH, which will serve as Training and Resource Centre under the roof of DeM, was established.
In February 2017, DeM organized Turkey’s first Experiential Learning Summit. At the summit where David Kolb was connected via teleconference, the approach of Experiential Pedagogy of Oppressed was shared with important representatives of the field of education.
DeM was invited to 5. Experiential Learning Conference which was held in USA in June 2017.
DeM put a significant milestone on its journey with a conference which held fifth time, organized by the Institute for Experiential Learning, led by David KOLB, the founder of Experiential Learning Theory.
