TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Milena (Lazic) Nikolic
Main aims were to learn how to empower and train youth and youth leaders on how to deal with cultural diversity, to develop youth and youth leaders learning to learn skills in a way that it can improve their employability, to encourage youth and youth leaders entrepreneurship spirit by developing and implementing their ideas to foster future international projects and collaborations.
30 youth workers and project managers coming from Italy, Cyprus, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Ukraine.
Team of Trainers:
Rodrigo Vilarinho Sweden / Portugal
Saro Rossi Italy
Milena (Lazic) Nikolic Serbia
The methodology used was based on experiential learning and alternative approaches towards intercultural learning and employability. Main working methods were based on experimental and experiential learning. In specific, the methods used were based on experiential learning, outdoor activities, team and group building activities, open space methodology, roll-plays, simulations, energizers, ice-breakers, etc. In addition, during the training we will follow the principles and values of non-formal learning, where education process is structured and planned, established on voluntary base and assisted by trainer.
A specific quality of this training course is the focus on future projects and concrete use of learning products, therefore participants were supported and guided on development, implementation and evaluation of their own projects for intercultural learning, dialogue and employment.
Participants had:
- Created 8 different project ideas, mainly youth exchange projects;
- Became aware of the importance that influence of culture has on person’s behaviour and identity.
- Recognized and became sensitive for differences that other cultures bring;
- Developed knowledge and competence in key concepts of intercultural learning and life long learning with young people;
- Acknowledged the Youth in Action Programme and Erasmus + as a tool for intercultural learning and Youth work;
- Received information about existing possibilities and conditions for the development of co-operation projects in the field of youth work;
- Reflected about the importance, possibilities and obstacles of cultural diversity when organizing international youth projects or other youth projects involving ethnic minorities;
- Reflected on the current European and national realities relating to youth employment and mobility;
- Exchanged best practices among youth, and youth leader in working within multicultural environment;
- Understood the steps needed to translate ideas into concrete actions and projects;
- Developed tools, activities, strategies for improvement of youth work on local level focused on cultural diversity;
- Developed an informal network of youth, youth workers and youth leaders between the EU countries;
- Identified common criteria and approaches for follow-up projects and initiatives developed on this training course.
I had a role of a trainer, meaning that I was responsible for design, implementation and evaluation of the training program. The training program was reviewed and evaluated every day and adjusted according to the learning needs of participants.