A step forward: Paths to enhance participation and community impact of youth activities

What is the main aim of the course? At the individual level, the main aim of the course is to train the future team members of International Youth Exchanges on the main educational issues in relation to designing, running, evaluating and following-up educational youth activities and Youth Exchanges, especially in what concerns intercultural learning and promotion a greater impact of this activities at local level, in our local communities. At the organizational level, this course will support the higher quality of the Youth Exchanges that contribute to the development of the organizations and our network. What are the objectives of the course? This training course will be held the amazing surroundings of Stockholm. In the offered setting, we will find an inspiring environment to work during 6 intensive days for the following objectives (on a personal and organizational level): · to increase participants’ knowledge and awareness about values underpinning non-formal educational youth activities; · to familiarize participants’ with the values, mission, structure and ways of organizing the exchanges; · to develop essential skills for facilitators in non-formal education with multicultural youth groups (e.g. programme design, leadership, team work, chairing and facilitating, communication, group dynamics, evaluation and follow-up) assuring quality criteria in all aspects of youth exchanges; · to develop participants’ awareness and skills about organizing the follow up (writing reports, support in organizing the follow up activities); · to provide knowledge and exchange experiences to increase the involvement of local communities in the development of youth exchange in order to enhance the impact of this activities in our communities; · to work on the inclusion, promotion and dissemination of the results of the exchanges within local communities; · to increase the participants’ competences and motivation to introduce into their work the intercultural learning and the engagement of youth people in participation in decision making in our societies democratic structures; · to discuss and develop the quality criteria for youth exchanges and their contribution to youth organization’s needs, realities and it’s impacts on our communities; · to encourage participants to develop new methods and approaches in ICL activities in a way that also enhances the impact of this activities in the local communities; · to expose participants to an intercultural process.