Trainer Profile: Andreas Karsten

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Training: European Citizenship Network Training (January 28-February 3, 2008, Warsaw, Poland)
Organised by: SALTO RC-TC & NA POLAND & PARTNERSHIP for a period of 5 days.
Description: 1) Aim

The aim of the training was to support the professional development of youth workers and youth leaders by extending their critical understanding of European Citizenship, by exploring and experiencing the potential of the notion of European Citizenship, and by enabling them to recognise and integrate European Citizenship in their youth work.

2) Profile of participants

Participants were youth professionals with intercultural project management experience with commitment and motivation to work directly with young people on issues related to European Citizenship. The intercultural group consisted of youth professionals from different European countries.

3) Methodology

The training addressed European Citizenship in youth work and all connected issues by means of non-formal learning, all the time and all the way through. The course is based on a curriculum.

4) Outcomes

The course enabled participants to critically explore the meaning, relevance and implications of European citizenship in youth work, and helped them to experiment and experience the potential of European Citizenship for active democratic change in society.

5) My role

As a member of a team of three, I shared responsibility in the preparation, running and evaluation of all sessions throughout the course.
Reference person: Nuno da Silva = Co-trainer (silvamago@hotmail.com, )

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Training: Forum on Intercultural Dialogue (October 18-23, 2007, Timisoara, Romania)
Organised by: INGO Conference of the Council of Europe for a period of 4 days.
Description: 1) Aim

The aim of the second Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was to stimulate local actors to engage in intercultural dialogue at local level, discuss methodological approaches and influence European practice in this field.

2) Profile of participants

Participants came from local, national and international non-governmental organisations from across Europe, working with the people, thus having active experience in intercultural dialogue-related issues at local level. Among other things they have experience in working with minority and religious communities, social exclusion, discrimination and issues of racism.

3) Methodology

The team has had an interactive and non-formal approach to organising this forum.

4) Outcomes

The Forum managed to encourage and motivate youth and social workers, who have an increased knowledge about different approaches to intercultural dialogue and who have developed a list of new, innovative approaches and methods on how to foster and support intercultural dialogue on the local level.

5) My role

As a member of a team of four, I was co-responsible for the preparation, facilitation and management of sessions and contributed to the report.
Reference person: Bastian Küntzel = Activity co-ordinator and co-trainer (bastian@nonformality.org, )

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Training: EYMD Training Course (February 18-25, 2007, Aachen)
Organised by: European Youth Press for a period of 6 days.
Description: 1) Aim

The course aimed to enable participants to prepare and implement the European Youth Media Days, which brought together 400 young journalists at the European Parliament in Brussels to collectively explore and discuss ideas and thoughts in relation to Europe, media and its young generation.

2) Profile of participants

Participants were young mediamakers and medialovers from all over Europe.

3) Methodology

The training team employed a variety of methods, including actions involving interaction with local people in the city of the venue.

4) Outcomes

The course introduced participants to intercultural learning, team co-operation and management of conflicts AND provided substantial time and space for planning the European Youth Media Days.

5) My role

As the co-ordinator of a team of three, I shared responsibility in the preparation, running and evaluation of all sessions throughout the course.
Reference person: Maximilian Kall = Project Co-ordinator (maximilian.kall@youthmediadays.eu, )

Current Occupation:
freelancer, trainer, consultant, journalist

Work Experience:
During the past years European citizenship has been an important focus of my work. Media, press and public relations issues and projects have been another significant element, and more recently Human Rights Education and LGBT issues were at the core of a series of projects.

Here are some examples of my recent work (all from 2007 and 2008):
- youth policy advisory for several municipalities
- pedagogical advisor for two large-scale innovative projects on working with disadvantaged youth
- training coordinator and team coach for the European Youth Media Days
- long-term organisational development for the German Youth Press
- evaluation of a pilot course for the Council of Europe's Directorate of Youth and Sports
- European citizenship network trainings for several National Agencies of the «Youth in Action» Programme.

Educational Pathway:
My formal education was mainly important because it opened my eyes and impressively showed me how important non-formal education is.

My non-formal education started in my local school student organisation and was strongly influenced by the philosophy of the Council of Europe's youth sector.

What I like most about non-formal education is that you never stop learning. Every new project teaches you something different - life-long learning at its best!

Curriculum vitae:
toycvaka.pdf