TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Panayiotis Theodorou
“Back and Forward - Empowerment for transition from YiA to Erasmus +” was a training course which focused as it its name says on looking BACK and valuing the importance of the Youth in Action Programme that lasted from 2007 to 2013 and gathering the “fruits” that could be used as a rich base for the FORWARD – the new Erasmus + Youth Programme.
Having in mind that the transition brings worries, uncertainty and questions, the focus was on how the previous experiences can empower participants to continue contributing on building the society grounded on knowledge, citizens, inclusion and participation.
That’s why the main aim of “Back and Forward” training course was to gather youth workers, trainers, project managers and other practitioners in the field to reflect and discuss on what the Youth in Action Programme gave, to remark the values of it, to raise awareness on its heritage, and then with this acknowledgment to look at the future through the new Erasmus + Youth Programme and participate in it with higher quality projects.
22 youth workers and project managers coming from Cyprus, Spain, Malta, Greece, Romania, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Austria.
Team of Trainers
Panayiotis Theodorou - Cyprus
Salvi Greco - Italy
Milena Nikolic - Serbia
The methodology that was used is specific to non‐formal education and learning, both individual and group methods, facilitated by trainers and taking into consideration participants’ learning needs with a creative approach to reflection on valuing the importance and gathering the “fruits” of the Youth in Action Programme that lasted from 2007 to 2013 in order to transfer them into the Erasmus + Programme. A relevant time was dedicated also to personal reflection for the sake of keeping the track of the personal learning process and raising awareness about it.
During the training course participants had:
- created 4 concrete project proposals within the guidelines of the Erasmus + Youth Programme;
- developed new insights and plans how to use the knowledge and skills acquired from YiA with new program Erasmus + Youth Programme;
- strengthened the partnerships between the organizations and planed in a long-term vision and perspective;
- increased strength and felt more empowered to participate in the Erasmus + Youth Programme;
- gained more information about the plans for the EU 2014-2020 in the field of Youth;
- acquired new information and experience on how the specific methodology of the non-formal education is an element that makes the difference in the learning process and how it could be used further in education in general.
I had a role of a trainer, meaning that I was responsible for design, implementation and evaluation of the training course’s program. The program was reviewed and evaluated every day and adjusted according to the learning needs of participants.