Lego® bricks, the toy we grew up with, is now gaining new meaning. RIC Novo mesto is developing a new methodology as part of the Re.M.I.D.A project to help solve the problem of social exclusion of adults with fewer opportunities, especially women over 45 years of age, using Lego bricks.

Erasmus+ project, whose carrier partner is the Italian Consorzio Ro.Ma., is expected to last until 31.8.2021 and includes 7 partners from Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Romania, Portugal, and Greece in addition to RIC.

The objective of the Re.M.I.D.A. project (Renewed Models for the Inclusion of Disadvantaged Adults) was created with the aim of supporting the social and labour inclusion of adults over 45 years of age at risk of exclusion (low skills, outdated skills, immigrants etc.) using an innovative intervention model aimed at achieving personal empowerment and strengthening the informal skills/competencies of this target group.

As part of the project, we will recast and upgrade the existing, now globally recognised Lego® Serious Play® (LSP®) methodology and use it to empower and raise awareness of informal and formally acquired knowledge that the socially excluded may not even be aware of.

The project partners met at two meetings. The first meeting was held in the vicinity of Rome, Italy, the second in Oradea, Romania. Under the guidance of the certified Lego® Serious Play® (LSP®) facilitator, who is actively involved in the project, we had a detailed view of the existing methodology. At these two meetings, we discussed the needs of individual institutions in the field of adult education and the necessary changes to the existing methodology for the application to the desired area – empowerment.

Due to the situation brought to us by Corona, we held the third partners’ meeting online, where we exchanged the findings of focus groups. Each of the partners organised focus group meetings, in which we included experts in adult education and asked them for opinions on the possibility of using Lego® bricks in their work.

Feedback from focus groups has shown us that interest in the innovative use of Lego® bricks in the field of working with adults is high, as they not only recreate childhood memories but provide an open and warm atmosphere. Under the guidance of the moderator, participants become aware of forgotten skills and knowledge, explore interests, values etc. Application of the new Re.M.I.D.A. methodology following feedback from the focus groups will range from raising awareness of forgotten knowledge and skills of individuals to raising self-esteem, either as an independent tool or as a supporting activity in the procedures for advising and evaluation of competences.

Belinda Lovrenčič (belinda.lovrencic@ric-nm.si), RIC Novo mesto