TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Daniele Cibati
The training activity aimed to achieve the empowerment and resilience of young people by providing them with tools for emotional management and conflict transformation. The training addressed the needs of youth workers and young activists to better understand and manage the impact of the climate crisis on mental health, specifically focusing on eco-anxiety and related emotional challenges. The activity fitted the goals of the participating organizations by fostering personal and community resilience, promoting emotional well-being, and encouraging systemic change towards a more sustainable and just future
The target group of the activity consisted of 30 participants, including youth workers and young activists from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The participants were involved in local environmental and social justice advocacy processes. The activity included individuals from five social organizations in the cultural and community fields.
The nationalities involved in the activity were primarily from Mediterranean Europe, including Spain, Italy, and Greece, and also from countries more directly impacted by the war crisis, such as Lithuania and Romania. These countries were chosen due to their varying experiences and impacts on public and psychosocial health, as well as their commitment to addressing the challenges faced by young Europeans in a global crisis contex
Four of the main methods used in the training were Work that Reconnects, Processwork, Theatre of the Oppressed, and Design Thinking.
Work that Reconnects: This method focused on helping participants reconnect with their emotions and experiences related to the climate crisis, fostering a deeper personal and collective connection with the natural environment. Through group dynamics, deep reflection exercises, and creative activities, participants explored their feelings of eco-anxiety and transformed these emotions into sources of motivation and action towards positive change.
Processwork: This methodology was key to conflict transformation and the inclusion of all voices within the group. It was used to deepen emotional and trauma management, providing a safe space where participants could explore and address emotional challenges related to the climate crisis. Using facilitation techniques, participants learned to manage individual and group conflicts, strengthening their personal and community resilience.
Theatre of the Oppressed: Used as a powerful tool for social exploration and transformation, this method allowed participants to express and confront situations of oppression and conflict in a safe and creative environment. Through techniques such as forum theatre, participants could enact their own experiences and explore collective solutions. This approach encouraged critical reflection and active participation, empowering young people to act as change agents in their communities.
Design Thinking: This method was employed to support participants in writing projects and designing change processes. It encouraged a creative, user-centered approach to problem-solving, guiding participants through steps such as ideation, prototyping, and testing. Design Thinking provided practical tools for participants to develop innovative solutions and structured plans for community projects, fostering an actionable pathway toward sustainable and just futures.
The training activity achieved several key outcomes:
Empowerment and Resilience: The training successfully empowered participants by equipping them with emotional management and conflict transformation tools, enabling them to address personal and community challenges related to the climate crisis.
Strengthening Community Bonds: By providing a space for sharing lived experiences and learning collectively, the training fostered stronger community bonds among youth workers and activists from different countries. Participants were able to build networks of mutual support, enhancing their capacity to collaborate on future projects.
Project Development Skills: The use of Design Thinking and other methodologies helped participants gain practical skills in project design and implementation, preparing them to initiate and lead community-based projects that address environmental and social justice issues.
Raising Awareness of Eco-Anxiety: The training brought attention to the impact of eco-anxiety among young people, highlighting the need for emotional support and resilience-building in response to the climate crisis.
Evidence of Success:
Participant Feedback: Success was measured through positive feedback from participants who reported increased confidence in managing emotions and conflicts, and a sense of empowerment to act on their communities' challenges.
Project Outcomes: The development of actionable project ideas during the training, which participants committed to implementing locally, served as a tangible measure of success.
Follow-Up Activities: Ongoing collaborations and initiatives stemming from the training further indicate its impact.
Publications and Websites Documenting the Training:
Creo Común Website: The training and its outcomes are documented on the organization's website, providing details about the methodologies used, participant experiences, and follow-up actions. Creo Común
I was in charge as the coordinator of the training activity. My responsibilities included overseeing the overall design and implementation of the training, ensuring that the methodologies used, such as Processwork and Theatre of the Oppressed, were effectively integrated into the sessions
I had the opportunity to work with Daniele as a co-facilitator in the Future B training, where I was able to appreciate his extensive knowledge and exceptional facilitation skills. His communication abilities and empathy stand out, creating an atmosphere of trust and active participation. Daniele knows how to connect with participants, making each session dynamic and enriching, and he demonstrates a deep commitment to the group's objectives and the learning of all involved