Training course "This is How We Do It"

Is your institution experienced in organizing inclusive activities and looking to improve in this area? Are you considering involving disadvantaged individuals in your activities to promote inclusion in your community, but lack previous experience? In both cases, the "This Is How We Do It" training is suitable for your representatives.

The main objective of the "This Is How We Do It" training is to enhance the quality of work with disadvantaged youth through the development of competencies and skills among youth workers. The training is intended for representatives of organizations that have little to no experience with disadvantaged youth, as well as for organizations already working with disadvantaged youth and aiming to enhance their work quality.

The specific objectives of the training are as follows:

1. Increasing awareness about inclusion topics.

2. Developing knowledge, competencies, and skills related to connecting disadvantaged and mainstream youth.

3. Conducting a "field visit" activity for training participants, allowing them to observe and participate in inclusive youth activities firsthand.

4. Building a community of youth organizations and creating a space for sharing experiences and contacts among participant organizations.

5. Boosting motivation among organizations to bridge the gap between disadvantaged and mainstream youth and promoting positive attitude changes toward inclusion.

In what areas will participants be developed?

Inclusion: its meaning, forms, significance, and benefits. Self-reflection and organizational reflection from an inclusion perspective. Approaches to involving disadvantaged individuals. Developing project proposals for their own inclusive activities. Exploring funding possibilities for activities/projects from Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps.

We will ensure the participants' transfer of newly acquired knowledge and skills by creating a space for them to prepare their own proposals for inclusive events (aligned with their organizations' requirements). These proposals will be developed under the guidance of experienced trainers.

We have an additional bonus for participating organizations: For organizations that implement a proposed inclusive activity in their local community upon returning from the training, we will provide financial support for its execution.*

*(These funds can be used by organizations to purchase materials, refreshments, pay the trainer/expert, etc. - detailed information will be provided to participants during the training. After completing the activities, no later than January 31, 2024, organizations will submit records of their expenses for the activity in the form of receipts or invoices.)

The trainers and team members:

 Soňa Holúbková: She is a psychologist, counselor, lecturer, and social worker with extensive experience working with individuals with disabilities. Ms. Holúbková is the organizer of the successful inclusive festival "Jašidielňa" = a festival of creativity and imagination (1990 - 2014) and the event "Internos" (2015-2019).

Martin Karen: He is a coordinator and lecturer in non-formal education, specializing in activities focused on inclusion. He has rich experience in the area of Living Libraries as both a trainer and a 'book'. He also has experience in leading activities within the Erasmus+ program, particularly Youth Exchanges targeting the age group of 13-17 years.

Marcel Rypák: An experienced project coordinator and a member of the Pool of Coaches of the European Solidarity Corps for the Slovak Republic. Marcel is also the godfather of the youth section. He will oversee the expert part of the training focused on project opportunities within Erasmus+, European Social Fund, and project creation.

Kateřina Kalábová: Kateřina possesses professional skills and experience in project management, volunteer deployment abroad, conducting workshops for youth, and organizing team-building and inclusive activities for companies.

From participants, we expect:

Full participation throughout the training duration.

Willingness to actively create a proposal for an inclusive activity that they can implement in their local community after the training.

Eagerness to actively engage and develop in inclusion-related topics.