TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Rota Marite Strazda
What did the training activity aim to achieve?
The Community Building skills training aimed to equip youth workers with essential tools and practices to foster true connection, collaboration, and mutual understanding in their professional and personal environments. The primary objectives were:
1. Enhancing personal growth and emotional intelligence: Participants were guided to improve their self-awareness, emotional regulation, and ability to navigate diverse personalities and backgrounds while maintaining respect and compassion.
2. Improving communication and team cohesion: The training introduced 12 core communication guidelines, providing practical tools to elevate the quality of dialogue and connection within teams and target groups.
3. Addressing compassion burnout: Youth workers learned strategies to sustain their well-being while supporting others, ensuring they could continue their impactful work with resilience and balance.
4. Building strong networks and partnerships: The program fostered a sense of belonging among youth workers, encouraging them to exchange experiences, share tools, and build long-lasting professional relationships.
Which needs did the training address?
The training responded to several critical needs:
1. Youth workers’ personal and professional development: By creating a safe and structured environment, participants were able to step back from their routines, reflect on their practices, and address their own growth needs.
2. Improved facilitation skills: The training provided tools for youth workers to design and implement activities that foster deeper connection and understanding in their target groups.
3. Enhanced team dynamics: Through experiential learning, participants explored strategies to create inclusive and respectful team environments, bridging differences and building trust.
4. Combating isolation and stress: By fostering a supportive community and equipping youth workers with mindfulness and communication tools, the training helped participants reconnect with their purpose and find balance.
How did the training activity fit to the goals of the organisations?
The training aligned with the goals of participating organizations by:
1. Supporting high-quality youth work: It strengthened the capacity of youth workers to create impactful programs that prioritize emotional intelligence, collaboration, and inclusivity.
2. Promoting social inclusion and well-being: By addressing challenges like compassion burnout and fostering emotional resilience, the training contributed to healthier, more sustainable practices in youth work.
3. Building community and networks: The training cultivated a network of skilled youth workers who could share best practices and support one another, amplifying the impact of their work within their organizations and beyond.
4. Advancing organizational objectives: It empowered youth workers with the skills to design follow-up activities, adapt tools to meet specific group needs, and promote the values of Community Building in their local contexts.
Overall, the training equipped participants with transformative skills and methods that enhanced their ability to lead with empathy and create meaningful connections, directly benefiting their organizations and the communities they serve.
The target group of the Community Building skills training consisted of youth workers, educators, and facilitators who are actively engaged in fostering growth and connection within their communities. Participants were individuals working directly with young people in diverse settings, including non-formal education, community projects, and youth organizations.
These youth workers shared a common desire to:
1. Deepen their personal and professional skills in emotional intelligence, communication, and team dynamics.
2. Gain tools to address challenges such as compassion burnout, navigating diverse personalities, and improving social cohesion within their groups.
3. Build meaningful connections with like-minded professionals across Europe to exchange strategies, share experiences, and create a support network.
The nationalities involved were Latvian, Russian, Lithuanian, Portuguese, and Czech.
The team consisted of trainers from Czech Republic and Latvia (one was Latvian, and the other - Russian nationality).
The Community Building skills training employed a variety of experiential, reflective, and interactive methods to ensure deep learning, engagement, and practical application. These methods were carefully chosen to align with the principles of True Community Building and to meet the developmental needs of youth workers.
Methods Used:
1. Circle Practices: Participants engaged in facilitated circle discussions where they practiced the 12 communication guidelines foundational to True Community Building. These circles provided a safe space to share stories, explore emotions, and connect authentically.
2. Role-Playing Scenarios: Participants explored different group dynamics by stepping into various roles to understand and navigate interpersonal challenges.
3. Mindfulness Techniques: Sessions included mindfulness exercises to help participants center themselves, enhance self-awareness, and regulate emotions. These practices supported the participants' ability to stay present and empathetic in group interactions.
4. Metaphorical Poetry and Storytelling: Trainers shared stories and poetry to give another perspective and deeper understanding of the communication principles taught.
5. Journaling and Self-Inquiry: Participants were guided through self-reflective exercises to assess their communication habits and emotional triggers.
6. Feedback and Peer Support: Structured sessions allowed participants to give and receive constructive feedback, fostering a culture of trust and growth.
The Community Building skills training achieved multiple objectives that contributed to the professional and personal growth of the participants, as well as the advancement of their work with youth.
Achievements:
1. Enhanced Communication Skills
Participants gained a deep understanding of the 12 communication guidelines central to True Community Building, enabling them to communicate more effectively and empathetically with diverse individuals and groups.
They learned to listen actively, navigate conflicts constructively, and foster environments of trust and respect.
2. Increased Emotional Intelligence
Through mindfulness practices and self-reflection, participants developed greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.
They became better equipped to manage compassion burnout, which is common in their roles as youth workers.
3. Improved Group Dynamics and Facilitation Skills
Participants practiced techniques to navigate diverse group personalities, cultural backgrounds, and challenging interpersonal dynamics, ensuring inclusivity and harmony.
They left with tools to create cohesive, supportive, and effective teams in their professional settings.
4. Personal Growth and Confidence
Many participants reported increased confidence in their ability to lead, communicate, and respond adaptively to challenges.
The training provided a safe space for self-discovery, allowing participants to uncover and address personal barriers to effective community building.
5. Professional Impact
Participants shared specific plans to integrate their newfound skills into their youth work, including more mindful communication, conflict resolution, and creating inclusive spaces for their target groups.
Indicators of Success:
1. Participant Feedback
Post-training evaluations revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback, with participants highlighting the relevance, practicality, and transformative impact of the training.
Many described the experience as "life-changing" and shared examples of how they planned to apply their learning in their work.
2. Observable Growth During Training
Participants demonstrated noticeable improvements in their ability to communicate openly, resolve conflicts, and contribute to group cohesion as the training progressed.
3. Practical Applications and Outcomes
Several participants reported taking the methods learned back to their organizations, implementing new practices like structured reflection sessions, circle discussions, and mindfulness exercises with their teams or youth groups.
4. Sustained Connections and Community Impact
A number of participants stayed connected after the training, forming professional networks and sharing resources to continue supporting one another in their Community Building efforts.
Reports from follow-up interactions showed that participants’ youth groups benefited directly from the new tools and approaches they had implemented.
By empowering participants with practical tools, fostering self-awareness, and strengthening their capacity to create authentic connections, the training successfully advanced its goal of enhancing the quality of youth work across diverse contexts.
In the Community Building skills training, I played a key role as one of the facilitators, contributing to the design, delivery, and evaluation of the program. My main responsibilities included:
1. Training Delivery
- I facilitated a variety of training sessions, ensuring participants gained practical communication skills, emotional intelligence, and strategies to manage compassion burnout.
- I led activities focused on group dynamics, fostering a collaborative environment where participants felt comfortable sharing, learning, and reflecting.
- I guided participants through mindfulness practices and reflection exercises to improve their ability to engage with themselves and others more consciously.
2. Curriculum Development and Adaptation
- I collaborated with the training team to design the content, ensuring it aligned with the needs of youth workers and the goals of the training.
- I adapted the content based on real-time feedback from participants, adjusting activities and discussion topics to address emerging needs and challenges.
3. Mentorship and Support
- Throughout the training, I provided one-on-one support and mentorship, helping participants identify and overcome personal barriers to effective community building.
- I encouraged self-reflection and growth, helping participants connect the training content to their specific professional contexts.
4. Evaluation and Reflection
- I led the reflection and evaluation sessions, guiding participants to assess their learning and identify actionable steps for integrating the skills and insights into their youth work.
- I also played a role in gathering feedback to continuously improve the training experience and ensure its impact on participants and their communities.
5. Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
I contributed to establishing a safe and supportive space for participants, using mindfulness techniques and structured activities to help them feel heard, respected, and included.
In summary, my role in the trainers' team was centered on facilitating meaningful learning experiences, providing ongoing support, and ensuring the training was impactful for each participant. I collaborated with the team to design and adapt the program, creating an environment conducive to both personal and professional growth.
I had the pleasure of working with Rota on the Community Building Skills Training, and she was truly amazing. Her experience and passion for community building, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence really shone through.
Rota created a safe and supportive environment where participants felt comfortable opening up and engaging deeply. She was incredibly adaptable, responding to the needs of the group and making sure everyone got the most out of the training. Her ability to balance practical tools with personal reflection made the sessions both insightful and impactful.
What stood out the most was Rota’s focus on building connections—not just among participants, but within the wider network of youth workers. She encouraged collaboration, sharing, and long-term support, which made a real difference.
Rota’s expertise, warm approach, and flexibility were key to the success of the training, and I can’t recommend her highly enough as a trainer. She brings heart, knowledge, and dedication to everything she does.