TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Karina Chupina
The aim of the study session was to equip participants with knowledge, skills and tools to address the risks and consequences of homelessness and lower socioeconomic status affecting LGBTQ youth.
Specific objectives were:
To develop understanding of homelessness and lower socioeconomic status, and how they are impacted by sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
To share ideas and experiences on working with youth affected by homelessness and lower socioeconomic status
To improve participants’ capacity to address the needs of LGBTQ youth affected by homelessness and low socioeconomic status (through advocacy, services, empowerment, educating providers, and other intervention)
To develop steps to apply learning results to participants’ work and local contexts
GROUP:
Pax profile:
works with or is interested in working with homelessness or is an LGBTQ activist/worker motivated and in a position to address homelessness and lower socioeconomic status among LGBTQ youth.
is between 18-30 years old.
is able to attend the full program (every participate must attend at least 80% of the program.)
has a level of English that would allow for unhindered participation in an international seminar. Interpretation services may be possible in exceptional circumstances for participants from very low socioeconomic status or who have experienced homelessness, if they do not have a functional command of English.
In total, 27 participants from 20 CoE Member States took part in the study session.
TEAM:
5 Team facilitators from IGLYO member organisations and a partnering European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) from Armenia, Belgium, Russia, Georgia and Denmark accordingly
Simulation activities, expert presentations, ground levelling of concepts relevant to the target audience of the study session, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, norms, identities and interventions that shape people's sexuality; group work, brainstorming, interactive quizzes, skills' development workshops (advocacy, outreach, motivational interviewing), a review of good examples of strategies and responses to the issue of homelessness among LGBTQ youth, an analysis of organisational structures, policies and strategies and how they interact and raise barriers or facilitate access for homeless LGBTQ young people.
The participants worked to produce a list of policy recommendations towards various stakeholders at local, national and international levels, so that these collectively lead towards a reduction of LGBTQ youth homelessness. The stakeholders were designated to be researchers, service providers and youth organisations. Participants also designed a campaign that can be used to raise awareness among the general population on the intersection between sexual orientation and gender identity and expression and homelessness, named "Don't Pass By", addressing the stereotype that only a very narrow niche of people with social problems can become homeless.
The participants also acquired various skills in order to increase their effectiveness in their own national and professional contexts: they increased their capacity to design and implement outreach activities, to advocate with and on behalf of LGBTQ homeless youth to service providers and decision makers, funders, journalists and opponents, to apply a logical framework approach to designing responses to the issue – and to apply counselling skills for improved communication with people experiencing addictions and homelessness.
Educational Advisor responsible for the quality of the study session accordingly with the Council of Europe Quality standards in training activities, supporting the team at two preparation meetings and an evaluation meeting, development and delivery of the training sessions, advice to the course director and the team on the educational approaches, methodology, content and and the daily running of the programme, running the selected programme elements, study session evaluation, and monitoring and supervising the conclusion of the report of the study session produced by the IGLYO.