TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Karlo Brunović
Aim of the activity was to increase the quality of youth work of partner organisations in promoting active citizenship. Special emphasis was on using non-formal education methods because non-formal learning can help enhance youth’s understanding of the EU, inspire a more active participation in social and democratic processes, as well as foster a sense of belonging to the European Union.
There were three specific objectives:
● increasing knowledge of partners' youth workers related to the Union’s functioning, common EU values, and fundamental rights
● increasing knowledge, competences and skills of partners' youth workers related to promoting media literacy and critical thinking among youth
● exchanging experiences of participating organisations on how to use non-formal education in promoting active citizenship among youth.
Target group were youth workers from Bulgaria, Denmark, Croatia, Slovakia, Spain, Poland, Lithuania and
Latvia, working with disadvantaged youth.
Firstly, I used World Cafe to spark discussion on active citizenship among participants. To build on this, I used the Percipio game to give everyone a chance to share their perspectives in a creative way. I also facilitated "Four Corners" to encourage participants to practice their argumentation regarding European values and active citizenship. Furthermore, I conducted Fishbowl Conversations to explore the opportunities presented by deliberative democracy through open dialogue.
During "Logical Fallacies and Mental Biases" workshop we explored the common errors in reasoning that occur in public discourse. I also organized a Parliament Simulation, allowing participants to experience the democratic process first-hand and understand how policy-making functions within the EU. In "Civic participation workshop" I engaged the participants to reach consensus on a real life case of democratic participation.
To ensure the training was participant-led, I facilitated several "Open Space for Exchange of Good Practices" sessions. These sessions allowed youth workers to share their own methods and successful tools for promoting active citizenship within their local communities. Finally, I supported the learning process through regular self-assessment tasks and daily reflection sessions, helping participants articulate the new skills they acquired for their Youthpass certificates.
The training generated knowledge, skills, and competencies needed by partner organizations to foster and facilitate young people’s participation in Europe’s democratic life. After the training, a digital leaflet was produced containing basic introduction to fostering active citizenship among youth.
By increasing the level of quality of youth work through training on media literacy and critical thinking, the Union’s functioning, and common EU values, the training positively impacted youth in local communities.
After the implementation of the training
course and during the dissemination phase, the trainers assessed the participants’ final evaluation surveys and EU Commission surveys, concluding that project objectives were successfully met.
Udruga Prizma's website (https://www.udrugaprizma.hr/civitas-2025) includes a link to a digital leaflet "Get Involved! Active Citizenship for Young People" developed after the training.
I was responsible for overall preparation and implementation of the training course, including design of training programme and meetings with partners during their preparatory visit.
Besides conducting core training sessions, I also contributed to reflection sessions, including mid and final evaluation by motivating participants to share their impressions and reflect upon their learning.
After the training, I was responsible for producing a a digital leaflet containing basic introduction to fostering active citizenship among youth. Moreover, I was in touch with project partners to follow-up on their dissemination activities.