TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aneta Tomeckova
The training activity aimed to strengthen youth workers’ knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV) in intercultural youth projects. It addressed the need for better tools, methods, and practices, as well as spaces for exchange between organisations, to improve the safety and inclusiveness of youth work.
Participants gained understanding of GBSV dynamics, developed practical educational tools, learned how to manage challenging situations, and exchanged experiences with peers across Europe. The activity fully aligned with the organisations’ goals by empowering youth workers to create safer, more inclusive, and educationally effective projects, while contributing to a European community of youth work practice.
youth leaders, mostly aged 18 to 30. They will act as ambassadors for the project, promoting its objectives and applying the skills learned in their local and international projects. Local volunteers and staff will also participate, supporting the training and sharing their experiences.
Participants will come from France, Portugal, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Greece, creating a rich intercultural learning environment.
The training used a variety of non-formal learning methods, combining participatory, experiential, and reflective approaches. Activities included debates, discussions, practical exercises, simulations, demonstrations, games, and reflection exercises. Icebreakers and introductions were used to build group cohesion and create a safe space for open discussion.
Interactive tools such as the “Gender Unicorn” were used to explore key concepts related to gender, sexual harassment, and different types of violence. Participants also shared their experiences and reflected on challenges they face, fostering peer learning, mutual understanding, and the development of practical skills for addressing gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV).
The training strengthened participants’ skills in facilitating intercultural youth projects and addressing gender-based and sexual violence (GBSV). Participants gained practical tools, shared experiences, and developed strategies to create safer and more inclusive environments. The success of the training was evident through high engagement, active participation, and positive feedback from participants. Documentation and outcomes of the training can be found on the organisation’s website and social media channels. https://urls.fr/zTI9uV
I worked as a full-time co-trainer for three days, responsible for preparing, coordinating, and facilitating training sessions, implementing non-formal learning activities, and actively contributing to the design and delivery of the programme.
During this training, Anet successfully used non-formal education methodologies to support the participants' learning of SBGV mechanisms in a participatory design. She used her strong theoretical knowledge on the topic, that comes from her own background in sociology, to build innovative activities that can be used by youth workers in Europe to prevent violence or intervene if they witness a violent act.
Even though this topic can be emotionnally demanding, she was able to build a safe space that allowed everyone to express themselves. She was also able to anticipate the participants' needs and adapt her activities so they can meet participants' expectations, thus showing strong skills in adaptability and understanding. The group was made of participants with various cultural backgrounds and previous knowledge/expertise in the topic, and Anet was able to design activities that fitted everyone.
Anet was working in pairs with another trainer, and the collaboration went smoothly thanks to her experience in group projects and her team-spirit.
Additionnally, Anet is passionnate about inclusivity. She always made sure that all activities were accessible to everyone, which fostered and supported the active participation of all. Her work was very much appreciated by the participants.