TOOL FAIR - VI edition

"Tool is only as good as the skills of the craftman using it"

The 6th edition of the Tool Fair continues with a concept which is well-known and recognised in the European youth field, offering an exciting combination of "laboratory" and "market" to discover and experience educational tools developed under the European Union YOUTH IN ACTION programme. A space to share, to experiment, to discuss and further develop educational tools used within different activities in youth field (youth exchanges and initiatives, EVS projects, seminars, trainings etc).

Participating in the Tool Fair VI will offer the chance to shape your own educational and experiential pathway, to run a workshop to share your tools with colleagues from international level as well as to participate in workshops by others.

However, beyond merely experiencing a wide variety of tools, the Tool Fair aims to provide a space to reflect on tools, give and receive feedback and pave the way for their adaptability, transferability and further development.

This way, the Tool Fair VI aims to contribute not only to the learning outcomes of each individual participant but also to the quality of educational tools and learning process on European level, complementing SALTO-YOUTH Toolbox for Training and Youth Work and various publications on educational tools, in coherence with the European Training Strategy.

The Tool Fair VI will be hosted in Tallinn, which is the European Capital of Culture in 2011 - what an exciting context for our event!

So this year the Tool Fair sparkles with CULTURE:

•Cultural awareness and intercultural learning are essential elements of European youth programmes and international co-operation in youth field specifically. What changes there have been in the concepts and practice of intercultural learning? What is new about the tools we find in this respect today?
• What about cultural activities as tools in youth work and youth projects?
• Where are the potentials to use culture to foster cross-sectoral approach when addressing youth related issues?
• Youth sub-cultures - where are these heading to and what does it mean for youth work and its tools?
• What about some shared values, expectations and norms that govern the youth workers approach their work and interact with colleagues - the organisational culture?

And after all, does something like a 'Culture of tools' exist?

What about some shared values, aims, attitudes and practices related to educational tools in European youth field? And what kind of language do we use to describe what, how and why we are doing? What about challenges to relate yourself to 'new' tools or understand what is behind the tool? Similarly to different cultural groups, there are groups of practitioners sharing the similar ideas or styles about educational tools...

And after all, seeing all this in wider context, how to understand the role of educational tools in developing the quality of youth work?

Let's come together to explore at least some of these intersections of educational tools and culture.

At the same time, we hope that all this will serve as thematic inspiration for the Tool Fair but not necessarily limit us only to the tools directly related to culture.

Besides, the Tool Fair will take place in Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, which has hosted the famous national song festivals as well as some sparkling stars of the international pop culture such as Madonna, Depeche Mode, Metallica, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones etc. Now also the Tool Fair!

Organisers and partners:
Tool Fair VI is organised by Estonian National Agency for the Youth in Action programme with the support of Youth in Action NA's network, in cooperation with SALTO-YOUTH EuroMed on behalf of SALTO-YOUTH Resource Centres network.The Tool Fair VI will happen thanks to specific support from the NA's of Greece, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey as well as by the "Tools for Learning" Working Group which supports SALTO-YOUTH RC's network in development and co-ordination of strategy on educational tools.

Target group:
Educational practitioners in European youth field: trainers, youth workers and youth leaders, youth project managers, NA representatives, youth policy makers etc active in the youth field in general and more specifically within the Youth in Action Programme. We welcome participants who have created an educational tool and/or are open to share and further develop their tools -together with colleagues- during the Tool Fair.

Tool Fair 2011 welcomes approx 100 participants from YIA Programme countries and MEDA, SEE, EECA Partner countries.

The diversity of the group of participants as well as the programme is one of the intrinsic features of the event, bringing an added value to the spirit of the Fair.

Working language:
English

Venue:
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and European Capital of Culture 2011

Recruitment procedures
The sending NA's are expected to cover the travel costs of the selected participants from their countries. Travel costs of the selected participants coming from the neighbouring countries will be covered by the organisers. Programme costs (accommodation and meals) will be covered by the organisers for all selected participants.

Deadlines for applications
2011-06-27 For participants who need a visa to enter Estonia
2011-08-31 For all other participants

Application on line