Training course "SIMULATIONS AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING VALUES"

Read latest infopack here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DKLhC6EV9UkEuYXdTo3jSzolO7Qca0-davfbmJS1cdY/edit?usp=sharing

Context and the Main Idea

Simulation games are one of the most powerful type of tools that can help to raise better understanding on how it is to be “in other peoples’ shoes” and experience situations that we are not that familiar with. 

They can be very valuable tool also to  increase awareness about different societal issues, develop empathy and thus alter peoples’ behaviors and promote VALUES. Even if they seem “like a game” for some people who are not well aware, they reflect well the deeply rooted patterns of behavior and prejudices that we have. 

Designing and facilitating simulation games is quite complicated and requires many skills, therefore these tools are not that widely used in youth work and educational context.

The general idea of this project is to explore deeper simulation games as an effective tool for promoting such values as inclusion, respect for diversity, understanding, equality and active participation among the young people and include more simulation games in regular youth work at the local level.

Participants 

• Teachers, social workers, youth workers, peer-leaders, youth organization/club activists, scout leaders, educators, etc.
• Working with young people (13-30 years old, not just children) in schools and/or in non-formal education system (as volunteers or paid workers) on regular basis Interested in exploring power of SIMULATION GAMES for promoting positive social change and developing values
• Ready to get involved in preparations (do “home-works”) and organize follow-up activities using the experience from this training (individually or together with another person from the same country) within 1 month after the training
• Ready to prepare 1 post/article for publicity to share results from the training 
• Committed to learning and working together for quite long hours every day (some - also outdoors)
• Aged 18+
• Good skills of communication in English

Participating Countries

• tautasvara.lv and Do More Be More (Latvia) - 3 participants (together) 20€ travel reimbursment limit
• AC Amics de la Biblioteca de la Fonteta (Spain) - 3 participants + Antonio 360€
• You In Europe (Greece) - 3 participants 275€
• Dadya Youth Council (Turkey) - 3 participants 360€
• EuroDemos Youth Mobility NGO (Italy) - 2 participants 360€
• Kreaktiva (Croatia) - 2 participants 275€
• Youth for Equality (Slovakia) - 2 participants 275€
• Europejska Fundacja Rozwoju Czlowieka (Poland) - 2 participants 275€
• Kultur & Art Initiative EV (Germany) - 2 participants 275€
• Annlizan Noorte Klubi (Estonia) - 2 participants 180€

The priority for participation in this project will be given to participants from the partner organizations.  If, however, any partner organization feels that it is difficult to find participants, please let us know and we will see how to solve the situation. 

Commitments

With this project we want to promote positive changes at different levels. In order to get the best out of it, it requires each participant's active participation! 

Involvement for this training course requires commitment not only DURING the 8 intensive working days, but also at least 5-6 hours BEFORE the course for preparations (researching the theme and getting to know with materials that will be available in project PADLET site) and also doing some follow-up activities.

Within 1 month AFTER the training in Latvia the participants’ teams from each country are expected to implement follow-up activities in their community: 

• 1 mini-training about simulation games as a tool for the local youth work/teacher community (3-4 hours, with 1 simulation game);
• 1 simulation game promoting some values with young people in your local community;
• create a core-group of young people to develop some E+ or ESC project together (national or international) focused on simulation games.

Financial Conditions

The training course will be implemented in the framework of EU “ERASMUS+” Programme (mobility of youth workers, key action 1). The accommodation and food will be covered fully. Travel expenses will be reimbursed at flat rates depending on travel distance. In order to be sustainable, we ask participants to plan the travel and buy tickets in advance and choose more environment-friendly public transport as much as possible.