This is a reference for Aiste Slajute

Building Bridges, Breaking the Walls: Managing Refugee Crisis in Europe

The training activity took place
in Yerevan, Armenia
organised by Armenian Progressive Youth
20-28 November, 2018

Aims & objectives

To provide conceptual framework on the notions of emigration, immigration, integration and multiculturalism to 36 youth workers from different European countries;

To analyze the emigration and immigration situation in participating countries and to find out the causes of migration, namely push and pull factors;

To discuss and analyze the current refugee crisis migration challenges in Europe and try to offer solutions from the perspective of youth work;

To foster tolerance, respect and open-mindedness towards migrants while working with young people as a target group;

To share experiences and best practices of integrating young migrants in youth organizations;

To equip youth workers with capacity to combat hate speech towards migrants, misinformation about refugees and xenophobic discourse;

To create a network of NGO's willing to be involved in the migration management process and contribute to the refugee integration process in participating countries.

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

This international training course mobilised 36 youth and community workers, youth leaders, teachers, and human rights activists from Armenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.

Training methods used & main activities

This training course was designed using non-formal education methodologies (interactive workshops, experiences and experiences shares, group discussions and presentations, study visits and guest inputs, human-library event, videos made by young people, debriefings and reflection sessions).

Outcomes of the activity

This training course:

1. Created space to exchange skills and experiences on refugee and migrant crisis management in different parts of European Union from the perspective of youth work.
2. Improved the knowledge about refugee and migrant realities in Eastern Europe and Caucasus region.
3. Give time to analyze the emigration and immigration situation in participating countries and to discuss about the causes of voluntary and forced migration.
4. Supported reflection upon the role of migrants in participating countries.
5. Provided an understanding of conceptual framework on the notions of emigration, immigration, integration and multiculturalism.
6. Fostered tolerance, respect and open-mindedness towards migrants and embraces empathy and solidarity.
7. Created space to share experiences and best practices of integrating young migrants in youth organizations.
8. Equipped participants with capacity to combat hate speech towards migrants, misinformation about refugees and xenophobic discourse.
9. Opened space to improve skills and abilities for creating strategies, campaigns and projects which are focused on inclusion of migrants.
10. Introduced different non-formal learning methods and techniques that can be used in youth work.
11. Empowered participants and organisations to disseminate and to communicate messages that promote respect and open- mindedness towards migrants in an efficient way.
12. Created a network of NGO's willing to be involved in the migration management process and contribute to the refugee integration process in participating countries.
13. Stimulated self-reflection, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving attitude.
14. Supported participants improvement of social, intercultural and interpersonal skills.
15. Encouraged active participation and use of cooperative approach in a learning process.
16. Encouraged analyzes about the controversial/challenging issues and improving their g skills.
17. Supported development of skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to play an active role towards building more inclusive and intercultural society.

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Full-time trainer with particular focus of bringing forward grassroots NFE experiences of working with ethnic minority youth.

I worked on this training for 7 days as a full time trainer.

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