TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Marie Heimburg
Germans, Austrians and Dutch participants who have experienced the Erasmus+ programme previously to this training, came together in this course to get information about the Europeers network, to gain skills and knowledge about running their own events, promoting Erasmus+ and ESC whilst meeting new people and cultures in the process. The training is a strong networking activity for young Europeans to share their experiences and get empowered to stay active in their local communities. The sessions are designed to equip them with tools and skills to tackle first own challenges when promoting the programme and implementing own activities.
The team consisted of two senior Trainers from Germany: Sabrina Apitz and Marie Heimburg. Which were supported by junior Trainers Anna Ricarda Walz.
In order to connect the group and make them feel comfortable throughout the training activity a diverse set of non-formal methods were used. There were focus topics that guided through the course:
Arriving:
The first activities were under the goal of connecting the group and breaking the ice. The pax played games like Mission Impossible, a mapping and line-up, as well getting to know games like the fruit basket and a team evening playing Guess my Passion
Resources:
Here the focus on sharing the pax international experiences as well as starting to become aware of their own potential. In order to share their experiences story telling tools like the Museum of Experiences were used. They got information about the network and were given time to brainstorm first own activities and pitch them to the group.
Challenges:
After some more input from the Natinal Agency the pax began to plan and organise their first activity. A bunch of very creative ideas came together after we had triggered them with a social dreaming exercise before.
Empowerment and Future Actions:
They were given tools to overcome obstacles which we found in a brainstorming remembering the group of their resources and potential.
A networking exercise and the final reflection of the learning journey were the last points on the agenda before handing out the youthpass certificates.
The outcomes of this training course are covering the following skills and topics:
- presentation and public speaking
- community mapping
- event organisation and management
- project management and public relations
- international networking and partnership building
- exchange on national realities and best practices
- staying connected in pandemic times, social interaction (even if screen-based)
I was one of the two senior trainers responsible for planning and implementing the training as well as supervising and supporting the junior trainer.