TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Ohiane Uranga Pascual
ESC On-Arrival Training:
- introduce the volunteers to the host country, preparing them for the experience
- make them aware of cultural and personal challenges
- facilitate networking
- conflict prevention and crisis management advice
- to develop communication skills, intercultural learning to support the participants to reflect on their own personal goals.
ESC MidTerm Training:
- to have the opportunity to review achievements and challenges in the volunteering placement to date, to reflect on learning gained and set new goals for future
learning.
- encourage to identify practical ways to improve the value of their volunteering placement.
- to make recommendations for their Hosting
Organisation and other organisations involved in their volunteering placement.
The 12 volunteers came from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and North Macedonia, gender wise they were 8 females and 4 males. Most of them were in their early 20's.
Training team: 1 british and 1 spanish (me)
The training has been following a LCL (Learner Centred Learning) method. The starting point has been creating a safe, relaxed and equal training environment. And changing the pace to keep the attention active (body and mind).
For most of the sessions we have develop the topics from what volunteers already knew. Trying to encourage critical thinking and “growth mindset” attitude towards the experience. We talked about Resilience: “keep on going, physical stamina, emotional self belief, mental capacity” and used and saw some tools that might be useful for them (transferable activities / resources)
Some of the specific methods and and dynamics used have been:
Energisers and Ice-breakers such us group juggling name game, finger catcher, rock paper scissors.
Trainer-led discussions.
Statements Debate.
Small group discussions.
Individual reflection and sharing of individual reflections.
“Peer expert”, peer collaboration (proximal learning)
Group and or individual Presentations.
Brain-storming and participant suggestions.
Group problem solving activity(with assumptions proposed by the volunteers)
Secret friend dynamic.
Experiencing (practical learning)
We proposed them different methods to approach their discovering UK challenge but also to present it. Methodologies proposed where research, interview public, research libraries, reduce internet research to a minimum, drama, theatre, painting, poster, quiz... they could pick the ones that where more interesting for each group.
Group Feedback.
- All participants went back to their projects feeling motivated, informed and inspired.
- Participants got the time and the space to reflect on what they want to achieve and tips on how to do it.
- The group dynamic was good and we could do some conflict management group exercises (play role).
- Peer support during the training and after through a social media group.
The evaluation of participants was very positive the only point to improve is the length of time of the training: In the evaluation session participant were asked to give one word feedback for the training and these were their answers:
“Dynamic”.
“I'm happy to have met people”.
“Interesting to know the work of other organisations and get good advice”.
“Fruitful training, it has been funny, and all has been very well linked”.
“I liked the group games”.
“Learn tips”.
“Fluid, dynamic, it's been perfect for me”.
“I'm glad you were speaking slowly, everything was clear.”
“I've enjoyed myself”
“In the beginning I thought it's going to be too short and maybe not good enough but then we started to share things, experiences, and we worked from what we knew already so I though yes it's good and useful”
“You've filled the gaps”
“Useful information”.
My role was lead trainer.
- Facilitate the training space and paperwork before and after the training. arrange practicalities and logistics during the training process,
- Lead Training sessions
- Support the other trainer
- Meeting and organising work with the other trainer
- Mentoring work outside training programme.
- Writing a report