Holistic Trainer Lab

International Youth Work Trainers Guild invites you to participate in the Holistic Trainer Lab, which is organised as part of our Erasmus+ KA2 project “Holistic Trainer 2.0” co-funded by the German National Agency.

The Lab aims to test and refine support materials for trainers developed within the project Holistic Trainer 2.0, while continuing to explore more ways to strengthen the professional community of youth work trainers across Europe. The main topics covered will be: 

1. Holistic Strategies
2. Creativity
3. Community
4. Values and Activism
5. Recognition
6. Continuous Learning and Personal Growth

The Lab will also serve as a space to review recent developments within the Guild’s Trainers' Forum and the Trainer's Community Lab, reflecting on how these initiatives support trainers’ wellbeing, professional growth, and collaboration across Europe.

Objectives:

• To foster peer learning, personal and professional development, and a supportive international community of practice.
• To gather feedback from trainer peers to improve the support materials developed in the project.
• To identify additional needs related to the topics: holistic strategies, creativity, community, values and activism, recognition, and continuous learning and personal growth.
• To review the draft mentoring guidelines and collect recommendations from experienced fellow trainers.

Methodology

The Lab is not a training course but a production and testing environment. During the Lab we will use collaborative and participative learning methods, based on exchange, practicing, reflection, discussions and networking. We will follow non-formal education methodology and approaches.

Participant Profile
We are looking for 24 trainers/facilitators with the following profile:

• Individuals working full-time, part-time, voluntarily, or as freelance professionals within the European youth field. This includes those working with local organisations who lead international training courses, youth exchanges, or local educational activities.
• Training practitioners ranging from junior trainers just starting their professional journey to highly experienced experts with diverse backgrounds and specialised expertise.
• Trainers who are involved or have been involved with Council of Europe, Youth Partnership, Erasmus+ Youth and/or the European Solidarity Corps programmes and who wish to contribute to shaping the future of the profession.
• Preferably, the members of established trainer pools, such as those managed by SALTO Resource Centres, Erasmus+ National Agencies, or regional and international NGOs.

Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Language: Participants must have a good working knowledge of English.
• Residency: Applicants must reside in one of the eligible countries (please review the call for the complete list).
• Available to participate for the entire duration of the Lab.