TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Rota Marite Strazda
This training activity, titled From the Ground Up, aimed to provide youth workers with a meaningful professional and personal growth experience by guiding them through the creation of their own personal myth. Through storytelling, myth exploration, and nature connection, participants engaged deeply with archetypal symbols, inspired by Sharon Blackie's If Women Rose Rooted, to reframe their individual journeys and reconnect with their core values. The training's objectives were multifaceted: to help youth workers gain a fresh perspective on their paths, increase resilience, and develop a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment in their professional lives.
Needs Addressed: The training addressed several pressing needs within the youth field. First, it responded to the limited upward mobility in youth work, where many reach a plateau after roles like project coordinator or board member. Youth workers often face burnout, anxiety, and a sense of stagnation when the professional trajectory appears narrow or stagnant. From the Ground Up tackled this by enabling participants to develop a visionary outlook on their careers, fostering both self-compassion and inspiration. The course also addressed the need for improved well-being and mental health support, providing youth workers with tools to navigate challenging phases with a grounded, self-aware approach. By creating a safe space for reflection and self-discovery, it reinforced the importance of youth workers’ emotional and mental well-being to their role’s effectiveness and sustainability.
Fit with Organizational Goals: The training aligned closely with the goals of both the participating organizations and the Erasmus+ framework. For Erasmus+, the project supported objectives in quality improvements in youth work, expanding youth workers’ competencies by helping them build resilience and a supportive peer network. The project also connected with priorities around promoting an inclusive society, emphasizing mental health and well-being, and enhancing opportunities for youth workers in rural or underserved areas.
For our organization, the training was instrumental in promoting collaborative growth among youth workers and strengthening international partnerships. By enriching the professional skills and emotional resources of youth leaders, From the Ground Up empowered them to improve their engagement and contributions within their NGOs. The follow-up activities we encouraged each participant to deliver will further share these methodologies across their networks, strengthening the community of skilled, resilient youth workers across our field.
For the training activity From the Ground Up, the target group consisted of youth workers, mentors, and project leaders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, all actively engaged in the youth sector. These individuals were selected based on their commitment to professional growth and their need for resources to sustain motivation, manage emotional well-being, and develop resilience in their work. Many participants came from organizations focused on supporting youth in underserved or rural areas, where burnout and role stagnation are particularly challenging.
The training was international in scope, with participants from a range of European countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Spain, Romania, and Portugal.
The training team consisted of 2 Latvian members and 2 Spanish members.
In From the Ground Up, we used a range of non-formal learning methods designed to foster personal reflection, group interaction, and experiential learning, allowing participants to deeply engage with the concepts of myth-making, storytelling, and nature-based growth. Here are some examples:
Storytelling: Participants gathered in couples to share personal stories inspired by mythological themes. Using techniques from Sharon Blackie’s If Women Rose Rooted, they explored how mythic archetypes resonate in their own lives and professional journeys. This method encouraged self-reflection and collective learning, allowing participants to relate personally and professionally to timeless stories.
Nature-Based Exercises: We organized nature walks and “solo reflection” sessions in natural settings. Participants were given prompts to contemplate the role of nature in their personal mythologies and professional values. Spending quiet time outdoors helped participants gain clarity on their values, strengths, and aspirations, linking the experience back to their work in youth organizations.
Peer Mentoring and Dreamwork: Using peer-to-peer mentoring techniques in combination with Dreamwork, participants partnered to help each other create their personal myths. These sessions involved structured dialogue and feedback, encouraging participants to sketch a “roadmap” for their future growth. The mentoring process was designed to be both supportive and inspiring, reinforcing the network of mutual support beyond the training.
Creative Writing Workshops: We facilitated hands-on workshops where participants built their own “personal myth maps,” visual representations of their life journeys, using symbols, images, and keywords that aligned with their professional goals and values. This exercise not only fostered creativity but also gave participants a practical tool for continuous self-discovery and growth.
Community Building and Group Sharing: Every day, we gathered to reflect on the day's experiences and the myth of the day. Participants had the chance to dive deep into how these myths relate to their personal and professional life, and insights were shared in group discussions, allowing for communal reflection and community building.
These methods created an engaging, inclusive, and flexible learning environment that honored participants' diverse perspectives while focusing on their professional development.
The From the Ground Up training achieved several meaningful outcomes that positively impacted participants' personal and professional growth. By the end of the program, participants had crafted their own personal myths, equipped with a clear roadmap for navigating their career and life challenges with a sense of purpose and resilience. They also established a peer support network that continues to provide encouragement and shared learning after the training, helping to sustain their growth and maintain connection within the field of youth work.
Indicators of Success:
Participant Feedback: Feedback collected from participants highlighted increased self-awareness, empowerment, and renewed motivation to continue their work in youth organizations. Many expressed feeling more connected to their values and reported a greater sense of clarity regarding their professional goals.
Peer Support Network Activity: The creation of a peer network was one of the training’s most successful elements. Participants have since organized follow-up activities and check-ins within their groups, evidencing the strong bonds formed during the training and the network’s lasting impact.
Follow-up Activities and Multiplier Effect: Each partner organization committed to holding at least two follow-up activities, spreading the methodologies learned to other youth workers and participants in their respective regions. These activities further validate the program’s impact and help ensure the dissemination of its core ideas.
Organizational Testimonials: Partner organizations shared testimonials on the improved enthusiasm and skills observed in their teams after the training. This feedback suggests that the course enhanced overall morale and helped maintain high levels of engagement among youth workers.
In the From the Ground Up training, I served as a lead trainer and facilitator within the trainers' team (and prior to the training also project writing). My responsibilities included designing the training curriculum, which integrated storytelling, myth exploration, and nature-based activities, ensuring that each session aligned with the overarching goals of personal growth and professional fulfillment for the participants. I was actively involved in creating a safe and supportive environment where youth workers could engage in deep reflection and share their experiences.
Throughout the training, I facilitated group activities, guided participants in crafting their personal myths, and provided individual support to help them articulate their values and aspirations. My role also encompassed coordinating with my co-trainers to ensure a cohesive approach to the training, adapting our methods in response to participant needs, and fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and trust.
Collaborating with Rota Marite Strazda on the From the Ground Up training in Sanilles, Spain, was a deeply enriching experience for me, especially as it was my first time working as a co-trainer. Rota not only created an innovative training idea and program but also had the skills and experience to turn them into a meaningful and well-structured program.
Her approach to facilitation was both professional and creative. Every evening she would come up with new ideas how to improve the following days program so it matches the needs of the flow of the project. At the same time the whole program was executed with high professionalism, assuring the best results can be met. Through her leadership, the training succeeded in providing participants with an experience they described as transformative, offering tools to foster resilience and reconnect with their core values.
I learned a great deal from Rota—not just about facilitation techniques but also about the importance of creating a rich environment for participants. Her ability to adapt to the group’s needs and her thoughtful presence set a strong example for me as a trainer. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside her and look forward to applying everything I’ve learned in future projects.