Exchange, Train, Learn and Act! (ETLA) - Mobility for youth worker

The Hungarian National Foundation for Recreation (HNFR) is organising an exchange program for youth workers actively involved in children's camps to develop their competences and share their knowledge. Even though there is a specific know-how of such camps targeting children under 14 there is less horizontal knowledge and best practice exchange between the different organisations in this field. With our event we would like to address this issue.

We are planning to gather 10 youth workers from each partner organisation and arrange a study visit among us with a training involved. The project would have three main parts:

1. Training course (4 days in Spring)
During the four days the participants will have the chance to form a strong study group where they can learn about each other’s organisation, camps; exchange best practices, knowledge and strengthen effectiveness of their work. The training will be facilitated by a professional trainer who will also lead workshops about intercultural learning and coach the professional development of participants. We are planning to use a variety of working methods such as non-formal learning, coaching, dynamic exercises, role plays, simulations and brainstorming.

2. Learning by doing (3x1week during summer)
The plan for the three weeks would be to visit one camp of each organisation. This way the selected youth workers will be able to implement the learning outcomes of the training by participating in the camps’ life and by job shadowing. Throughout this phase the participants will be able to gain knowledge and best practices that can be later implemented in their home organisations.

3. Evaluation (2 days)
At the end of the second phase we will dedicate two days for evaluation of the past events. Participants will be asked to create a personal learning plan for their development as a youth worker and an action plan to ameliorate their organisation’s work in the future.

Our objectives along with the creation of a professional platform for knowledge exchange on children camps are:
- to enable youth workers to gain competences needed for their job
- practice newly gained skills in a safe environment
- reflect on the values of a youth worker
to better understand intercultural environments