TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Armin Cerkez
The Balkan Youth Exchange is not a new project, it has been an on-going educational effort by the Balkans and similar projects are in place all over the region. However, the main purpose of creating the BYE was for further the inclusion of minorities and focus on religious knowledge and dialogue. We wanted to offer dialogue for youth on topics which are belittled or overlooked in their current societies. BYE seeks to engage youth leaders from need-based communities and participant youth for purpose of engaging their critical thinking skills and further implementation of youth projects for the purpose of peace and open dialogue. All participants are expected to learn about identity formation in society and understanding the difference between national and religious identity. We seek to equip all participants with the know-how regarding inter-cultural dialogue, social and civic awareness. Additionally activities will be implemented that will challenge stereotypes, conflicts, intolerance based on nationalities and minorities. Participants will be expected to improve their knowledge of these subjects and be able to deal with them in a more positive light without challenging their beliefs and working closely with EU values and charter of rights. Also “learning to learn” competence will be practiced and improved since the youth will be equipped to deal with challenging obstacles and be able to organize their own learning and its evaluation.
The project will involve 30 young people from 6 countries:
Bosnia-Herzegovina – NGO Youth Power;
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Center for Intercultural Dialogue;
Albania– ACT for SOCIETY Center;
United Kingdom –The 4Cs;
Slovakia - A.D.E.L.;
Croatia - Outward Bound Croatia;
We will use different non-formal education methods, peer-learning, sharing sessions, discussion groups, ice-breakers, debates, joint actions, sport and outdoor activities.
The main purpose of creating the ILTYE was to further the inclusion of minorities and focus on religious knowledge and dialogue. We wanted to offer dialogue and training for Balkan youth on topics which are belittled or overlooked in their current societies. ILTYE seeks to engage youth leaders from need-based communities and participant youth for purpose of engaging their critical thinking skills and further implementation of Balkan youth projects for the purpose of peace and open dialogue. We seek to equip all participants with the know-how regarding inter-cultural dialogue, social and civic awareness. Additionally activities will be implemented that will challenge stereotypes, racism, classicism, sexism, and LGBT phobias. Participants will be expected to improve their knowledge of these subjects and be able to deal with them in a more positive light without challenging their beliefs and working closely with EU values and charter of rights. The training and youth exchange goal is increase the “learning to learn” competence since the youth will be equipped to deal with challenging obstacles and be able to organize their own learning and its evaluation. The final days we will seek to train the youth workers in entrepreneurship competence and give them the tools to design their own creative programs utilizing all the ideas and knowledge from the TC/YE.
- promote dialogue among youth with different religions
- to prepare youth leaders to deal with religious issues with a focus to empower youth through inter-religious awareness
- dialogue while embracing and learning about EU Values.
- sport as a tool of developing healthy lifestyles and behaviors