Trainer Profile: Laimonas Ragauskas

<1>
Training: Training seminar "Cooperation for Development" (10-20 September 2007, Hanoi, Vietnam)
Organised by: LKJ Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. for a period of 9 days.
Description: 1) The main aim:
The general aim of the project is to contribute to development of youth work through promoting the value and benefits of youth participation and non-formal education to young people in Asia and Europe.

Objectives
-To gain understanding about the structures of youth work in the participating countries
- To provide space for sharing youth and youth work realities of countries that participants are living in
- To increase the understanding of how non-formal education is implemented in youth work in participating countries
- To get knowledge and better understanding of ways the youth participation can be increased in European and Asian countries
- To exchange best-practice examples how non-formal education and youth participation is implemented in participating countries
- To provide space for development of common youth activities between Asia and Europe
- To get to know what is available support for European-Asian cooperation in the field of youth work

2) Target group. 42 participants equally from six countries – 3 from Europe (France, Germany, Lithuania) and 3 from South East Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia)
The seminar was targeted to those, who are:
- Directly involved in youth activities with young people
- Have experience in developing and managing a project with and for young people
- Are committed to develop international youth projects on youth participation and/or voluntary work
- Are supported by one of the partner organisations in their resulting activities of this seminar

3) Methods used
The methodology was developed in order to provide space for participants to share their ways of work, to learn from each other and encourage mutual cooperation. There was set of methods used for exploring participation and non-formal education, interactive methods were followed by some theoretical inputs and discussions in smaller groups and plenary as well. Participants had spaces to showcase their youth work, how are they trying to increase participation of young people.

4) Outcomes of the seminar
Established understanding for different concepts and methods of non-formal youth
education, youth participation and voluntary work in Europe and Asia
Exchanged best-practice examples of youth work
Establish international partnerships with the ongoing projects on bilateral or multilateral basis
Improved skills for international youth work among Europe and Asia

5) My role and responsibilities
My role was facilitator of the seminar (together with co-facilitators from other countries). I was responsible to prepare and run sessions on participation, non-formal education, Youth in Action programme, international project development.

Reference person: Sylvia Gossel = organiser, facilitator (sylvia.goessel@jugend-lsa.de, )

<2>
Training: TC Rural (28th April-03rd May 2007, Kemer, Turkey)
Organised by: SALTO Inclusion for a period of 5 days.
Description: 1)Aims
The SALTO TC Rural aimed to increase the use of the European Youth in Action programme in the youth work in rural and isolated areas in order to stimulate opportunities for young people in those areas.

In order to reach this aim, SALTO Inclusion put forward the following provisional objectives for its TC for Rural & Isolated Youth:

- bring together youth workers that are working in a rural setting or in isolated areas, to exchange good youth work practices
- to analyse the specific challenges young people and youth workers in these rural & isolated contexts face and
analyse how the Youth in Action programme could be used as a tool for creating opportunities for young people in rural/isolated areas
- create an overview of the existing youth work and training resources for youth work in rural contexts
- develop common (international) projects together that could potentially be developed after the course

2)Target group. 25 participants from Belarus, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Portugal, Norway, Turkey, Macedonia, France.
 directly working with youth in rural areas or isolated places (periferical zones, islands, mountainous regions, less serviced areas, with less access to information)
 having the interest and the possibility within their organization (green light from their hierarchy/colleagues!) to set up European projects and cooperation activities after the course - either with participants from the course, with the National Agency or other partner organisations.
 having a good working knowledge of (international :-) English, the working language of the course


3) Training methods used
Methodology was built on participants' own experience, from real life or simulations, and work on concrete projects for the future. The methods used were non-formal learning-based methods: structurised discussions, individual reflections, visualisations, drawing, quiz, presentations, thematic group work, etc.

4) Outcomes of the training course
A direct outcome of the SALTO TC Rural is the educational booklet "Village International" in the SALTO Inclusion for ALL series, about setting up international projects in rural and geographically isolated areas.
ALL (100%) participants said that they had developed concrete project ideas at the course
91% of participants said to have a very high commitment to setting up (international) projects after the course
After six months 94% of participants have created or applied for a total of 37 youth projects in the 6 months after the course! And 23 of them found partners in the course.
Other intangible outcomes were increased competencies of youth workers to deal with young people in isolated or remote areas

5) My tasks and responsibilities were shared with other two colleague trainers and I was designing the programme, developing methods, implementing and evaluating them during the training course. Afterwards my responsibility was to describe methods used and upload them to the SALTO toolbox .

Reference person: Tony Geudens = organiser (tony@salto-youth.net, )

<3>
Training: "Coach me if you can" (13-20 May 2007, Szeged, Hungary)
Organised by: YOPA association for a period of 6 days.
Description: 1) Our overall aim was to understand the role, functions and competences of coach within “Youth in Action” Action1 youth projects in local, regional, national and transnational level. To develop and improve knowledge, skills and attitudes for using appropriate ways, methods and techniques in given situation working with young people within youth projects.

Learning objectives of the training course were:
- To increase self awareness and self knowledge of young people, youth workers for coaching.
- To understand the needs and potential the young people have, when realising their ideas in practice.
- To train young people, youth workers for using methods and techniques during different phases of projects.
- To raise awareness and develop attitudes to ensure active participation of young people at personal level and at community level;
- To reflect on participants’ experiences and create recommendations for management of next projects within the programme “YOUTH in ACTION”

2) Target group. There were 22 participants from Bulgaria, Romania, Finland, Hungary, Poland Slovenia, Turkey
- Youth workers, directly working with young people, having experience of running at least one youth initiatives project in local, regional, national or transnational level;
- Youth leaders, having experience of running at least one youth project in local, regional, national or transnational level;
- Young people, having experience of participating at least one youth project in local, regional, national or transnational level;

3) Training methods used
The course was designed as an open learning process based on participants’ experience and exchange. The training course followed the non formal education approach and contained of mainly experiential learning activities. Here are few examples:
- Simulation of coaching youth initiatives and youth exchanges
- Defining roles and functions of coach in youth work
- Role play for developing skills of getting to know and motivating youth group
- Role play for developing skills of coaching in preparation phase

4) Outcomes of the training course
- Improved skills and attitudes for successful coaching process within youth initiatives, youth exchanges
- Network of participants
- Developed methodologies for training coaches

5) My tasks and responsibilities were shared with other two colleague trainers and I was developing the training course concept, designing the programme, developing methods and implementing all of it in action during the training course.

Reference person: Nerijus Kriauciunas = trainer (nerca@email.lt, )

Current Occupation:
I am free lance trainer in the field of youth non-formal education, also working as international youth exchange manager, community's website manager, youth initiatives consultant

Work Experience:
6-12/04/2008 International Training course "Geting to the roots of Citizenship" - Citizenship education via experiential learning and outdoor education, Organised by Lithuanian National Agency
25/02 - 02/03 2008 International Training course “Get in Net”, organised by SALTO Participation RC and French National Agency
27/11-03/12/2007 Evaluation seminar of the project “Cooperation for development” (cooperation between South East Asia and Europe), Magdeburg, Germany
6-11/11/2007 Training course “Get in Net”, organised by SALTO Participation RC and UK National Agency
23-30/09/2007 2nd training of LTTC “Participation towards citizenship”
10-20/09/2007 International training seminar “Cooperation for development”, Vietnam, in the frame of YOUTH programme
10-15/07/2007 Training course for organisers of Transnational and local Youth Initiatives, Lithuania. Organised by Lithuanian NA of EU programme YOUTH in ACTION.
12-17/06/2007 “Get in Net”, training for organisers of Networking projects, UK, organised by SALTO Participation RC and Belgium, French community NA
23-27/05/2007 Workshop of the Network of multipliers of the Youth in Action programme in EECA countries, Poronin, Poland, Organised by SALTO EECA RC
13-20/05/2007 International Training course “Coach me if you can” on Coaching in youth work, Szeged, Hungary, hosted by YOPA association
28/04 – 03/05 2007 International Training course “TC Rural”, Kemer, Turkey, organised by SALTO Inclusion and hosted by Turkish NA
13-23/04/2007 LTTC “Step into colourful societies” on Cultural diversity issues in youth work, Szeged, Hungary, organised by Karasz association
2-8/04/2007 International Training course “Make it better!” on partnership issues in YOUTH programme, Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted by AGEE-Baku
14-17/12/2006 Facilitation of EECA Multipliers Network annual meeting. Kiev, Ukraine
19-26/11/2006 International Training course on Evaluation and Follow up of Youth Exchanges “1 more time – Action 1”, Hungary
6-10/11/2006 2nd Training for multipliers for the programme YOUTH, Lithuania, organised by Lithuanian NA
22-28/10/2006 Documentalist of Training module on European citizenship “The role youth work in participation” in Rome, organised by Partnership of Council of Europe and EU and by Italian NA
10-15/10/2006 Contact making seminar “Bring Europe to your local youth work”, France, organised by SignAll, Orleans, France.
30/09-7/10 2006 International Training course “Promoting youth glo-cal participation (through youth exchanges”, Barcelona
16-25/09/2006 International training course “SEE Ya Europe!” for organisers of International Youth Exchanges within the programme YOUTH, Serbia. Organised by Young Hungarians of Vojvodina
23-28/08/2006 “Get in Net”, training for organisers of Networking projects, UK, organised by SALTO Youth Initiatives RC and UK NA
11-16/07/2006 “Get in Net”, training for organisers of Networking projects, Turkey, organised by SALTO Youth Initiatives RC and Turkish NA
25-29/06/2006 Facilitation of Future forum of trainers, Pentedatillo, Italy, organised by assiociation Pame Ambro
13-18/06/2006 Training seminar for organisers of International Youth Exchanges. Organised by Lithuanian NA (Youth programme)
2-7/06/2006 All together! – Contact making seminar in Serbia
15-25/05/2006 International Long-term training course “Participation towards citizenship”, 1st Training course for youth workers, Lithuania.
13-19/03/2006 International training course “Peer2Peer” about using Peer Education approach in International youth exchanges within programme YOUTH, Poland.
20-28/02/2006 International training course “Some1-A1?” for organisers of International Youth Exchanges within the programme YOUTH, Lithuania. Organised by Youth Centre “Babilonas”
24-29/01/2006 Training seminar for new YOUTH multipliers for EECA region and facilitation of the Annual meeting of Network of Multipliers of EECA. Organised by SALTO-YOUTH EECA RC
09-14/01 2006 Long-term Training course for multipliers of the YOUTH programme in Lithuania
04-10/12 2005 Facilitation of the International Seminar "Youth, regions and the future of Europe" (Magdeburg, Germany). Supported by the YOUTH programme
28/11-02/12 2005 Evaluation seminar for organisers of Youth Initiatives. Organised by Lithuanian NA (Youth programme)
16-21/11/2005 Evaluation seminar for organisers of International Youth Exchanges. Organised by Lithuanian NA (Youth programme)
10-14/11/2005 Contact making seminar "Let's do our best EVS!" (Hungary) for the group from 12 countries. Supported by the YOUTH programme
26-30/10/2005 Training course for youth leaders on supporting youth initiatives in the region (Kretinga, Lithuania)
15-24/08/2005 International Training course "Peer to peer and multiply!" (Szeged, Hungary). Organised by "K.L.I.K", supported by the YOUTH programme
11-17/07/2005 International Training Course "Do you see us?" about visibility of NGO's in the society. (Nida, Lithuania) Organised by Liberal Youth Union, supported by European Youth Foundation
13-18/06/2005 Training course for organisers of International Youth Exchanges, Lithuania. Organised by Lithuanian NA of EU programme YOUTH
9- 14/05/2005 Training course “European Citizenship in youth work”, Lithuania, organised by National Agency of programme YOUTH.
21-28/04/2005 Training Course “Recognising the role of Peers in Youth projects”, Moscow region, Russia
10-13/03/2005 Training Course for organisers of Youth Initiatives, Lithuania. Organised by Lithuanian NA of EU programme YOUTH
02/2005 Training Module on European Citizenship – 3: “The role of youth work in participation” Organised within the Partnership Programme on European youth worker training run by the European Commission and the Council of Europe
12/2004 - 02/2005 Training of Multipliers for Eastern Europe and Caucasus Countries, organised by for SALTO-YOUTH Eastern Europe and Caucasus RC
11/2004 - 01/2005 3 Training courses within frame of Pilot project “Intercultural learning in Lithuanian Schools”
15-21/11/2004 International Training course on Networking projects in Action3 “Deep in da Net” (Programme YOUTH, Action 5), Lithuania
12-17/10/2004 Contact Making Seminar “North by East”, organised by Swedish NA
21-24/06/2004 Meeting for Development of European Citizenship Training modules, which will be organised by Partnership
02-07/04/2004 Contact Making Seminar “Go East!” for SALTO-YOUTH Eastern Europe and Caucasus RC
03-07/03/2004 Contact Making Seminar "M.O.R.E.", Vilnius, Lithuania
08-15/02/2004 International TC "Youth Project Manager2004", Vienna, Austria
11-12/2003 Training seminars "NGOs as educational resource", Novgorod region, Russia.
10/2003 Training seminar on organizational management for Vilnius Pupil’s Union.
10/2003 Training seminar on organizational management for Lithuanian Young Conservatives
10/2003 4 team building seminars for Euro House project participants.
09/2003 Training seminar for Lithuania Liberal Youth “Courage to be me”
07/2003 Preparation seminars for participants of international youth exchanges
05/2003-04/2004-Long-term training programme “T.E.A.M”. 3 training seminars on campaigning and organizational management for youth from Belarusian NGO’s
06/2003-Seminar “Attracting NGOs to the increase of the activation of youth in elections” for NGO representatives of Gazakh region, Azerbaijan
03/2003-Training seminar on teamwork and project management for representatives of “ELSA Lithuania”, Lithuania
06/2002-Training seminar for organizers of youth exchanges, Lithuania
04/2002-International training seminar on project management and study visit for youth from Belarusian NGO’s and political parties.
04/2002-International training course “International Youth Co-operation”
03/2002-International training seminar on project management and study visit for youth from Belarusian NGO’s and political parties, Lithuania
11/2001 – 06/2002-Training seminars for group implementing youth initiatives, Lithuania
08/2001-Training seminar for youth NGO’s on organisational management, Lithuania
08/2000-Training seminar on project management for NGO’s of Siauliai region.

Educational Pathway:
Formal education: On 2001 I finished my studies on Management and Business administration. Obtained knowledge helps especially working in trainings on project management. Now I’m studying International Business and it gives better comprehension on management in international level.
Non-formal education:
2004/2005 “Training of Multiplier for European YOUTH programme” organised by SALTO-YOUTH Training and co-operation RC
03-05/2004 “3 Dimensions” Baltic Training for Trainers, organised by Baltic NA’s
11/2003: "Gender Issues Mater" TRaining course on Gender Mainstreaming, Stockholm, Sweden.
04/2003: “Triangle - or how to connect three different sides?” Training course on sectors co-operation (Governmental, Non-Governmental and Business) in developing community projects, Austria
2002: “T4T” Training for Trainers, organized by Baltic Partners for Change Management, Lithuania
2002: “Yips in Yopa” Training Course about youth participation in youth initiatives projects, Latvia
1999: “BiTriMulti” Training course for youth exchange organizers, Austria

Curriculum vitae:
L_Ragauskas_CV_en.doc