TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Heleri Alles
Action 4.3 Seminar "Changing Europe: migration - Opportunity or Challenge?" brought together 27 youth workers from 8 countries (Estonia, Greece, Spain, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary) to Ida-Virumaa from 28.06 to 07.07.2013.
The aims and objectives of the seminar were:
• Fostering reflection on different dimensions of migration and mobility, understanding the theoretical framework of migration trends and new migration in Europe and its global effects
• Exchange of experience and good practice in youth work, related to international/local migration and mobility and its influence on young people in Europe
• Preparing youth workers and youth leaders in addressing the challenges and opportunities resulting from migration for young people /society as a whole
• Raising the competence of youth workers and youth leaders about the push and pull factors of migration and causes and consequences of migration and how to prevent negative effects of migration (such as discrimination) in society
• To understand the EU policies towards migration and mobility and local realities in participating countries and learning good practices
• Improving competences about different (youth) mobility opportunities in Europe
• Promoting European cooperation between youth organisations promoting youth mobility and support engagement youth with immigrant backgrounds in participating organizations’ activities
• Develop new initiatives in the field of migration and mobility for young people within the framework of the Youth in Action Programme
Seminar brought together 27 youth workers from 8 countries: Estonia, Greece, Spain, Latvia, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary. Seminar was facilitated by team of three facilitators from Estonia and Bulgaria, and supported by Estonian organizers.
Seminar used non-formal methods to gain it's aims and also took into account the personal development of each participant. We used group discussions, study visits, role-palys, work in pairs and other various methods. We had theoretical and practical inputs on both - immigration and emigration.
The project was closely connected to Youth in Action priorities and objectives. Project helped to foster youth participation and European citizenship. We brought together 27 youth workers and leaders across 8 European countries who work directly with young people, including young immigrants. During this project participants exchanged experiences, how to better fully support youth participation – how to use European mobility opportunities for engaging young people in job market and civil society. Participants got new knowledge what is European citizenship about, and what rights (such as free movement) go with it. Also common European concerns were discussed – discrimination against migrants is one of the most serious discriminations on European level, even publicly supported by several European governments. Our seminar in a sense helped to support understanding between different European cultures, and supported the exchange of opinions between participants from different cultures. We had mixture of opinions and this contributed to understanding of diversity and tolerance. Raising awareness of different mobility opportunities helped our participants in the future to create new opportunities for youth and raise their awareness how they can get experience through different programmes to be able more easily find a job or continue their educational path. Talking about and exchanging experiences how to include different groups such as young immigrants in society helped to fight discrimination, xenophobia and marginalisation in our European society. We also promoted cooperation in youth field in Europe, bringing together 8 different organizations from separate corners of Europe who work in migration and mobility field. By creating a common network and developing new projects we created long-term partnerships and platform to improve the quality of youth work in project field in participating countries and Europe.
We achieved the following objectives:
• Participants reflected on different dimensions of migration and mobility, learnt to understand the theoretical framework of migration trends and new migration schemes in Europe and its global effects
• Participants exchanged experience and good practices in youth work which related to international/local migration and mobility and its influence on young people in Europe
• Participants learned to address the challenges and use the opportunities resulting from migration for young people /society as a whole
• Participants learned about the push and pull factors of migration and causes and consequences of migration and how to prevent negative effects of migration (such as discrimination) in society
• Participants understood the EU policies towards migration and mobility and local realities in participating countries
• Participants improved competences about different (youth) mobility opportunities in Europe
• Participants learned to understand the situation with refugees and asylum seekers, and the current situation in Europe (world)
• Project promoted European cooperation between youth organisations working in the field – several new projects and partnerships were formed
• Project developed a new network of organizations and youth workers working in the field of youth migration and mobility
Participants learned about the key terms connected to migration, and also about migration routes and history. They learned about the effects of migration for the country of origin and country of destination. They learned about the EU laws concerning migration policies and mobility inside the European Union. Participants now understand better the situation of refugees and asylum seekers. Participants learned about situation of migration in different participating countries and they shared their own experience and experience in connection to cultural background. Participants learnt about the migration situation in Estonia and about the local reality in Ida-Virumaa.
Participants learned to work in English, and express themselves better in spoken and written English. They learned specific terms used in connection to migration topic. They learned to work in intercultural non-formal environment, and understand better what does non-formal learning mean and how it differs from formal and informal learning. They learned to set themselves concrete learning goals and follow them. They learned to use Youthpass as tool, process and certificate. Participants improved their digital competence via keeping in contact with organizers and their sending organization; they learned to use blog, social media and salto system. They also searched for Internet based migration games and can now use them in everyday work with young people. They took initiative in developing their own follow-up plans and future cooperation projects. Some participants took initative in open space, sharing information about mobility programmes in Europe, other took initiatives in other workshops, for example sharing country experience during world cafe. Participants took some risks and solved problems which occurred during the seminar activities. They learned to live and work in multicultural environment and accept different opinions. They learned about common European issues and values and now they understand better their role in Europe, as people who can support youth, and create new opportunities for them.
I was responsible for designing and implementing the training course. I was full time trainer.