Confident Youth Worker: The Assertive Approach

Assertiveness is a communication style characterized by confidently expressing one's opinions, needs, and boundaries in a clear, honest, and respectful manner, while also being considerate of others' perspectives and rights. By integrating assertiveness into professional practices, youth workers not only enhance their communication skills but also contribute to their own well-being and resilience.

Main aim

The main aim of the “Confident Youth Worker: The Assertive Approach” is to explore the topic of assertiveness and learn how to navigate the complex landscape of youth work with confidence.

During this experience you’ll not only grow professionally but also personally. You will learn how to keep your heart at peace and master your emotions, express honesty and listen. You will be more true to yourself knowing your needs, expressing your thoughts and communicating your boundaries. This course is more than just a learning opportunity — it’s a step towards evolving the way you connect with your participants, colleagues and partner organizations. This training course tackles specifically the wellbeing of an individual working in the youth work sector.

Objectives

• Enhance Youth Workers' ability to communicate assertively, express thoughts, feelings, emotions, boundaries and ideas clearly and confidently with respect,
• Understand the Assertive Approach: Grasp the nuances of assertiveness and differentiate it from passive or aggressive styles,
• Advance Feedback Skills: Learn to offer feedback that empowers and accept feedback that supports growth,
• Handle Conflict: Explore different ways people deal with conflict and practise the assertive approach,
• To experience theoretical and practical tools to assert yourself constructively in your personal and professional life and to increase the quality of youth work.

Methodology

The Training Course is built on the foundation of non-formal educational principles, engaging you through a variety of dynamic methods. The program is experiential and based on a holistic approach.

Participants’ profile

• Youth workers, trainers, facilitators of non-formal learning or youth leaders who are directly working with young people and teams of youth workers,
• Active in the youth work field and willing to use what is learnt in the training in everyday work,
• Comfortable with English as a working language,
• Able to take part in the full duration of the programme (including the online kick-off meeting),
• From countries EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme as well as countries not associated to the programme from the Western Balkans (Region 1) and Neighbourhood East (Region 2).

Timeline

29 April 19:00 CET: Online kick- off meeting

7th of May: Arrival day, starting with dinner,

8-11 of May: Training activity days,

12th of May: Departure day, after breakfast.

Team

Raminta Rusovičiūtė, Luca Radák, Ilias Giannopoulos and Michaela Gelnarova [SALTO's Training of Trainers cohort 2023/2024]