Quality in E+

The objectives of this training course are:

• to explore environmental and social sustainability and how it can be taken in account while managing mobilities;
• to research how to develop inclusive learning experiences;
• to develop more inclusive and sustainable approaches in participants’ organizations;
• to create fruitful partnerships among youth workers and organizations.

The philosophy behind the training course:

In the field of youth there is more money than ever, more opportunities than ever, but the situation in Europe and the world is becoming more and more challenging. Something that we do as a youth-workers’ community is not working. Something works very well. In this training course we celebrate what works and explore how to prevent experiences that don’t bring the impact and change we want to see in the world. Our impact as youth workers and youth organizations can be relevant in local communities. Therefore it is necessary to understand which responsibilities we are able to take on, recognizing the privileges and resources we have, the power it gives to us, and how we use this power throughout the projects and mobilities we create. Through non-formal education we are going to explore how to create experiences that leave a long-lasting healthy impact on organizations and on our target groups while at the same time leave the smallest possible negative impact on the environment.  Also, let's explore how we can actually measure the impact . The training course includes topics on social and environmental sustainability and quality learning. And, because of the profile and beliefs of the trainers, we can’t avoid a few grams of creativity. 

What can you find in this course:

• Exploration of sustainability and our impact on the environment and how it could be developed in your organization and mobilities you offer;
• Deepening the topic of social inclusion and diversity through an intersectional and decolonising approach;
• Reflection and discussions about experiences in E+ and ESC programmes, project writing and implementation;
• Space for networking and creating new working relation between practitioners and organizations active in the Youth Field and in E+ and ESC Programmes;

This training is shaped by the Non-formal education approach, with group dynamics and creative activities that promotes active participation during the mobility. The process is based on experiential learning, also giving some theoretical input and space for individual/group reflection.

• Participatory and social Theatre were used to dig deeper in the topics of this training course;
• Ecocentric approach to explore green sustainability and relation with nature;
• Creation of a Safe (enough) Space where every participants feel free to express ideas and proposal;
• The learning process is shared among individual participants, the group of participants and the trainers. The  weekly program is a proposal, flexible and sensitive to the participants’ needs.

Trainers

Linda Ulane: Hey! I am an educator and youth worker. A big part of my educator’s identity was created in a NGO called Radi Vidi Pats (Create the Environment Yourself). I also work as an non-formal education trainer for Latvian National Agency. Mostly I cover topics of support systems for youngsters and youth workers and the importance of creativity. Besides this, I also work with burnout, environmental awareness and climate action topics, because without that - what's the point of anything else. I also am a healthcare clown, writer and volunteer youth worker in Liepaja prison where I offer biblioguidance workshops. I love my work and it gives me hope.

Marco Marinelli: Hey there! I'm Marco from Italy, moved to the north from the south. I'm a circus pedagogue, youth worker, and activist, part of the organisation Arterego, based near Bologna. Being a performer gave me inspiration to look at the reality with different eyes and through the years  I developed an expertise in the topics of social inclusion and diversity, feminism, and critical pedagogy, all practices and methodologies that gives me motivation to continue the work as trainer and facilitator, making me believe that change is possible thanks to the values of solidarity and cooperation.