TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Rastislav Zaremba
The training activity, titled "Competencies of young leaders as a tool for community development," aimed to develop young leaders' skills and responsibilities. These included planning, time management, self-motivation, group leadership, cooperation in outdoor learning, and project management processes. Participants were also familiarized with the Erasmus+ program and its goals, enabling them to formulate their own projects. The primary need addressed was the development of local youth communities in rural European regions through the informal education of active young people, focusing on leadership models, motivational theories, inter-cultural understanding, and practical skills like teamwork, conflict resolution, communication, map reading, and orientation. The training directly supported the Erasmus+ objectives, continuing the organizations' intensive cooperation with youth and aligning with their strategic goals for 2019 to foster leadership and project management skills.
The target group for this activity consisted of high school students, aged 16 to 19, who were active members of school and leisure-time communities and hobby groups, often serving as informal leaders among their peers. Participants from the receiving organization's country (Slovakia), specifically from Snina, frequently came from disadvantaged backgrounds and had actively participated in previous projects. The international activity involved participants from Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Lithuania, Greece, and Turkey.
The training extensively utilized non-formal learning methods, emphasizing active, mutual cooperation. Specific methods and examples included coaching and mentoring, reflective learning through short daily meetings for participants to reflect on their experiences, and interactive activities such as new games, icebreakers, and team dynamics exercises. Practical outdoor activities like map reading, compass work, orientation, dwelling construction, and meal preparation were also incorporated. Additionally, discussions, plenary meetings for evaluation and feedback, self-evaluation forms, and an introduction to informal education, comparing it to formal education, were used.
The project was expected to significantly impact participants at both individual and local levels, influencing their schools, friendships, families, and local events. Anticipated achievements included a higher output of locally organized activities by young people and an improved societal image for youth. The project also aimed to motivate other young people and organizations toward leadership within international relationships. The success of the training was assessed through daily evaluations, plenary meetings, and activities undertaken by participants in their communities after the project, which was considered the best indicator of the training's effectiveness and the application of acquired skills. Project leaders continued to work with participants and local communities to observe changes in group dynamics and the emergence of new projects. Final assessment forms, feedback from participants, questionnaires, personal interviews, and presentations were also used for evaluation. The training was documented and disseminated via social media, a dedicated Facebook fan page, a video document shared on YouTube and Facebook, dissemination events in local communities, and articles in local and school newspapers.
My role in the trainers' team was as a trainer. I brought rich experience in the training field, having previously worked as a trainer in six Youth in Action/Erasmus+ projects. My involvement encompassed actively delivering the non-formal learning activities and contributing to the overall educational objectives of the project.