About Us

Colony of Creators is a non‑profit NGO founded in 2017 and based in Machico, Madeira Island, Portugal. We are dedicated to fostering lifelong learning skills through Erasmus+ teacher training, youth projects, and adult education initiatives.

We design Erasmus+ teacher training, staff mobilities and educational programs that connect school education, youth work and adult education across Europe.

From youth projects to empowering educators

We started our journey in the youth sector, empowering young people as active citizens, promoting social inclusion and advancing sustainable development education—especially for those facing challenges due to geography, socioeconomic status or personal circumstances.

Over time, we realised that the biggest impact comes when we equip teachers, youth workers and adult educators with the skills and tools to replicate and scale this kind of learning in their own communities

Today, we still collaborate with youth groups, but most of our work focuses on school staff and adult education professionals, because we believe that our experience and methods can be replicated and scaled through the daily work of teachers, youth workers and trainers.

Who our courses are for

Our Erasmus+ courses and mobilities are designed for:

• School education staff – teachers, school leaders, support and administrative staff.

• Youth workers and non‑formal education practitioners – in NGOs, youth centres and community organisations.

• Adult education professionals and project managers – working in lifelong learning, inclusion, wellbeing and social impact.– trainers, project managers, social workers and other adult learning facilitators.

Whether you are a teacher, youth worker or adult educator, our programmes help you turn educational ideas into concrete projects with your learners and communities.

What we specialise in

Our expertise spans:

• Digital and AI‑supported education – responsible use of digital tools and AI to create automations, increase productivity, facilitate workflows, and ultimately provide learning resources in ethical, accessible ways.

• Non‑formal and innovative teaching methods that make learning more engaging and inclusive.

• Inclusion and diversity, special needs education and Universal Design for Learning‑inspired approaches.

• Sustainability and ecological awareness, linking local environmental challenges to global citizenship.

• Digital and AI tools for education, supporting educators to create stories, media and learning resources in ethical, accessible ways.

  Across all our work we promote cross‑cultural learning and a shared European identity among teachers, youth workers and learners.

How we work

We develop and deliver:

• Erasmus+ KA1 teacher training courses and staff mobilities, in Portugal and other European locations.

• Youth exchanges and non‑formal learning projects, often co‑created with partner organisations.

• Workshops, team‑building activities and “Invite an Expert” visits, bringing our trainers into schools and NGOs to support local development.

• Our activities are rooted in European values and designed to be practical, reflective and easy to transfer into participants’ own contexts.

  Our mission

  Our mission is to use education as a tool for long‑term social change, by equipping educators, youth workers and adult learning practitioners with practical skills, methods and mindsets they can apply in their own contexts.
  We believe that when teachers and community educators grow, their learners—young people and adults—benefit many times over, and the impact of each Erasmus+ mobility continues long after the course week ends.

  Join us and be part of a European movement for education and social change. Whether you are a young person starting your journey or an educator seeking professional growth, we at Colony of Creators offer courses, projects and partnerships to help you build a brighter, more inclusive future.