When Kasia Olszko’s family first moved to Barcelona, Learnlife was already on her radar. At the time, there was only the Urban Hub. Years later, when Village Hub opened in Sant Pere de Ribes, joining felt like a natural next step.
For Kasia, choosing a school was never only about academics. It was about finding a place where her son could feel at ease, engaged in his days, and supported in becoming himself.
In the short video below, she shares why her family chose a learner-centred education — one grounded not only in learning, but in emotional wellbeing, agency, and the freedom to grow from strengths.
Many parents accept school as simply something children must tolerate. But Kasia began from a different question: where would her son actually want to spend his days?
Children spend a large part of their waking hours in their learning environment. For Kasia, that made the emotional quality of those hours deeply important. She wanted her son to feel that school was somewhere he belonged, not somewhere he endured.
“Our child spends so much time at school — six or eight hours a day. Being somewhere he wants to be, where he’s really learning and thriving, was essential.”
This perspective reflects a quiet shift many families are making. Beyond curriculum and outcomes, they are paying closer attention to whether their child feels safe, known, and motivated within their environment. When children experience that sense of belonging, engagement often follows naturally.
Another element that drew Kasia to Learnlife was the emphasis on strengths. Traditional education often focuses attention on what children struggle with. Over time, this can subtly shape how they see themselves.
Kasia was looking for the opposite: an environment that would notice what her son does well and allow those qualities to develop.
“I wanted a space that supports his strengths rather than focuses on his weaknesses. We know from research that when we build on strengths and accept weaknesses, that’s what helps people thrive in life.”
At Village Hub, learners encounter projects and challenges that invite their abilities to surface and expand. Instead of being defined by gaps, children experience themselves as capable contributors within a learning community.
One of the most significant differences Kasia noticed was the attention given to emotional development. For her, this dimension of education felt largely absent in the systems she knew.
“The focus on emotional and mental development — especially emotional wellbeing — is something still largely missing in public systems.”
Children are not only learning subjects; they are learning how to be with themselves and with others. Confidence, self-worth, and the ability to navigate relationships shape how they approach both learning and life.
At Village Hub, these capacities are not treated as separate lessons. They are woven into daily experiences — in collaboration, reflection, and community life.
Self-directed learning was another aspect that mattered deeply to Kasia. She wanted her son to experience learning not as something imposed, but as something he gradually takes ownership of.
“Mainly the self-directed learning aspect — that was very important for us.”
As children develop agency, their relationship to learning changes. Curiosity becomes more personal. Effort becomes more meaningful. Learning begins to feel connected to who they are rather than simply what they are told to do.
Underlying Kasia’s decision was a broader reflection many parents now share: what is education ultimately preparing children for?
“Yes, academics are covered in innovative and interesting ways. But unless you’re prepared to thrive in the world — to relate to others, to find your way, to have self-worth and look after your wellbeing — academics alone don’t matter.”
In a world that is increasingly complex and changing, the ability to adapt, connect, and understand oneself becomes as important as knowledge itself. For Kasia, a learner-centred environment offered a way to integrate both.
After years of awareness, joining Learnlife through Village Hub felt aligned with what Kasia hoped for her son. The nature-connected setting, mixed-age community, and project-based learning created an environment where he could build strong foundations while also developing confidence and autonomy.
For her family, the choice was less about choosing something alternative and more about choosing something that felt developmentally right.
Kasia’s story reflects a wider movement among families seeking learning environments that support the whole child — intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Learner-centred education places development and agency at the heart of learning while maintaining strong academic foundations.
For many parents, this approach does not feel radical. It feels intuitive: that children learn best where they feel known, capable, and engaged.
Village Hub in Sant Pere de Ribes serves learners aged 6–11 in a nature-connected environment where children build strong foundations and develop the confidence to thrive.
👉 Explore Village Hub or join an upcoming Open Day.