BRAVE DAY — A Practical Forum on Experiential Learning in Working with Veterans

BRAVE DAY is a practical forum for representatives of organisations and professionals working with veterans, as well as for veterans of all genders and their spouses and partners.

The forum’s goal is to introduce participants to practical experiential learning methods, share approaches the team learned at the annual Association for Experiential Education conference in Pittsburgh, and present the BRAVE model, the T4 Empowerment approach and experience from the “Hero’s Compass” programme.

Participants will have the opportunity to try these methods in practice, meet one another, exchange experiences and identify what they can apply in their work or personal lives.

BRAVE DAY will also feature an exhibition area showcasing organisations and initiatives working with veterans and their families.

The project brings together professionals, representatives of organisations working with veterans, veterans of all genders and their family members around practices that help build trust, support group interaction, draw on inner resources and resilience, strengthen teamwork and help individuals identify their next steps.

The idea for BRAVE DAY grew out of practical experience gained through the “Hero’s Compass” programme and knowledge the team acquired at the annual Association for Experiential Education conference in Pittsburgh in November 2025.

The approach centres on learning through personal experience, rather than simply receiving theoretical knowledge: participants take part in an exercise, reflect on what happened, relate the experience to their lives or professional practice and identify what they can apply in the future.

What the Project Includes

During BRAVE DAY, participants explore the BRAVE model, the T4 Empowerment — Trust, Try, Transform, Transition approach, practices from the “Hero’s Compass” programme and tools for group work and teamwork.

The practical component covers three main areas:

BRAVE and T4 Empowerment.
Practices for building trust, safely trying new things, supporting change and taking the next steps. Participants explore group interaction, healthy risk-taking, agreements based on shared values and situations that may arise when working with groups.

Art-Based and Reflective Practices.
Tools for exploring inner resources, resilience and self-support. These include the “Practitioner’s Inner Compass”, creating an “Artifact of Strength” and working with cards developed for the “Hero’s Compass” programme. An essential part of this work is understanding the boundaries for using these practices safely and respecting each person’s right to choose.

Team Exercises Led by Veteran Mentors.
Practical exercises designed to develop trust, communication, mutual support and collaborative problem-solving. The main focus is on cooperation, reflection and applying the experience to real life, rather than competition.

BRAVE DAY in Chernivtsi

The first BRAVE DAY practical forum will take place on 9 October 2026 in Chernivtsi, bringing together approximately 100 participants.

The forum is designed to keep participants actively involved. Following a shared practical session, they will join separate thematic tracks where they can try the proposed methods themselves, discuss their experiences and identify tools they can use in their professional practice, community work or everyday lives.

BRAVE DAY creates a space where experience becomes a tool for learning, trust forms the foundation for interaction, and insights gained through practice guide the next steps.

Organisers: the Public Resources and Initiatives Charity Foundation and DTCare Ukraine, within the “Hero’s Compass” programme.

Supported by: Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University and Chernivtsi City Council.