TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Panagiota Adamidou
The overall objective of the on arrival training course is to provide the participant volunteers useful tools for the realization of their EVS.
The specific objectives are:
• Get to know the ERASMUS + program, the European Union and the Spanish national agency;
• Present the historical, social, cultural and geographical context in which the volunteer’s work is carried out in Spain;
• Provide tools and resources for intercultural learning and communication that allow volunteers to improve their skills, knowledge and attitudes during their EVS;
• Help volunteers and volunteers to plan and develop their own learning objectives for EVS;
• Provide a space for meeting and exchange between volunteers;
• Improve communication skills of the volunteers both language and nonverbal;
• Promote tolerant attitudes of respect and dialogue.
The target group was EVS volunteers, aged 18-30 years old.
Altogether 28 participants from Egypt, Cyprus, France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey, Argentina, the Netherlands, Norway and Romania took part in the training course.
The course methodology was based on experiential learning and non-formal education, in an atmosphere where participants could interact with each other and feel empowered so that they cope with the challenges that will occur during their EVS stay and strengthen their motivation and active participation towards their EVS projects.
The main activities involved: the introduction to the hosting country and the projects’ environment; group Dynamics to get to know each other but also to get acquainted with other actors related to the EVS programme in Spanish (National Agency, trainers); creation of interactive sessions to support participants in further practicing the use of Spanish language; use of multimedia and creative tools to create an “informal” volunteers’ network that will constitute a means for mutual support and exchange of experience during their project.
The successful outcomes of the activity are available to the Spanish National Agency , as the participants completed a written evaluation form, especially designed to the specific activity.
I was one of the two full-time trainers.