TC 'Eastern Express' in 2011

Date and Venue

EASTERN EXPRESS TC took place from 15 till 22 May 2011 in European Youth Center in Budapest, Hungary.

Aim

"Eastern Express" training course aimed at rising quality of Youth Exchanges within action 3.1 of Youth in Action (YiA) Programme, especially in cooperation between Programme and Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EECA) countries.

Programme elements

6-days training course:

• Youth in Action Programme presentation with special focus on cooperation with EECA countries within Action 3.1 projects;
• How to find partners?
• How to organize successful Youth Exchange project with Programme and Neighbouring Partner Countries of Eastern Europe and Caucasus?
• Youth Exchange Project Management within Youth in Action Programme - focus on quality;
• Intercultural learning in youth projects;
• Partnership in youth projects;
• Inclusion and fighting against poverty in Youth Exchange projects - what does it mean?;
• Support activities for Youth Exchanges in Youth in Action Programme;

Participants

EASTERN EXPRESS TC brought together 28 voluntary and professional youth workers from Programme and EECA region: youth leaders and project coordinators working directly with youngsters, who are interested in setting up international youth projects.

Participants profile:

• active youth worker;
• ready to develop new Youth Exchange projects within Youth in Action Programme, action 3.1;
• active participation and contribution during the full duration of the TC;
• ability to communicate in English.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection was carried out by SALTO EECA RC and relevant National Agencies of the Youth in Action Programme, based on the criteria specified in the "participants profile" section.

The applicants were requested to fill in the on-line application form. The call for participants was open till 1st of April 2011.

The selected participants were informed directly till 16th of April 2011.

Working language

English

Team of the Training Course

The team was composed of 3 trainers with excelent experience in Youth Exchange Project Management and cooperation with EECA Partner Countries as well as knowledge of the European Community Youth in Action Programme, in particular Action 3.1.

The selected trainers were:

• Erika Kármán, Hungary
• Volha Paddubnaya, Belarus
• Laimonas Ragauskas, Lithuania

Moreover representatives from SALTO EECA as well as from Hungarian and Slovak National Agencies of the YiA Programme composed the team.

Organisers

This Training Course was co-organised by Hungarian and Slovak National Agencies of the Youth in Action (YiA) Programme together with SALTO Eastern Europe and Caucasus (EECA) Resource Centres.

Financial Conditions

• The board and lodging during the training course for all participants was provided by organisers,
• Travel costs of participants from Eastern Europe and Caucasus were covered by organisers on the basis of original tickets and invoices,
• Travel costs of participants from Programme Countries were paid by relevant National Agency on its own principles.