TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aneta Tomeckova
The main aim of the seminar was to bring together volunteers from Solidarités Jeunesse to strengthen their understanding of the global project, its values, and its governance. It provided a shared space to connect volunteers and help them place their individual volunteering experiences within the broader movement.
The seminar addressed the need for a better understanding of non-formal education, which is central to the organisation’s educational approach. During the week, participants took part in several workshops on topics such as the environment and food inequalities, gender expression, non-violent communication, engagement and volunteering, and the values of Solidarités Jeunesse and popular education. These activities allowed participants to explore complex themes through experiential learning and discussion, while reflecting on how non-formal education is applied in their daily volunteering activities.
The seminar also responded to the need for peer exchange, enabling volunteers from different projects and countries to share experiences, challenges, and good practices. In addition, it supported volunteers’ engagement by increasing their understanding of the organisation’s sociocratic functioning and governance model, encouraging them to take a more active role within the collective project. Overall, the seminar contributed to the empowerment of volunteers, the quality of volunteering experiences, and the long-term goals of the organisation.
The target group of the activity consisted of volunteers from different local delegations of Solidarités Jeunesse. The seminar brought together both European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteers and Civic Service volunteers, with the aim of creating exchange and mutual learning between participants involved in different forms of volunteering.
The activity was international in nature and involved participants from a diverse range of countries and nationalities, including France, Germany, Portugal, Ireland, Georgia, Spain, Mexico, Finland, and Honduras.
The seminar was fully based on non-formal learning methods, using participatory and experiential approaches. Icebreakers and energisers were used to build group cohesion, encourage interaction, and create a safe learning environment.
Interactive activities such as moving debates and the “NASA survival game” were used to explore different types of governance and decision-making processes. The seminar also included small-group work in mixed international groups, experience-sharing sessions, and active listening exercises, allowing participants to exchange perspectives and learn from each other through reflection and dialogue.
The seminar strengthened volunteers’ understanding of the values, governance, and non-formal education approach of Solidarités Jeunesse, while reinforcing their sense of belonging to the organisation. Participants became more confident and engaged in their role as volunteers.
The success of the seminar was shown by the high level of participation, active involvement in discussions, and positive feedback during evaluation sessions.The activity was documented through internal reports and communication channels, including the organisation’s social media : https://urls.fr/J-Cbqc
As a full-time trainer, I designed and developed seminar content, including programs, activities, games, and exercises adapted to the participants and their needs. I also created, updated, and adjusted educational materials, including worksheets, presentations, practical guides, and interactive resources to support experiential and collaborative learning. I facilitated workshops, seminars, and participatory activities that encouraged engagement, reflection, and co-construction of knowledge. Finally, I collected and analyzed participant feedback to improve the quality, inclusiveness, and effectiveness of the training.
During this training, Anet's facilitation skills and the methods she used tremendously supported the active participation of all the volunteers. The group was made of several smaller groups of volunteers from very diverse social and cultural backgrounds ; the activities implemented created a strong connection and sense of belonging between them, thus fullfilling the goal of this gathering.
Her approach was inclusive of everyone and showed her deep interest in making every activity accessible. This is also supported by her linguistic skills, effortlessly switching between English and French when needed.
Anet flawlessly coordinated the activity on the pedagogical side, demonstrating strong organizational skills. She is passionate about non-formal education dynamics and, as a former EVS volunteer herself, is able to pass her knowledge and experience on to new volunteers.
She successfully tackled various topics that are essential for ESC volunteers, such as gender inclusion, non-violent communication, and interculturality. These learning outcomes were highly transferable onto the volunteers' regular activities and tasks, therefore having a long-lasting impact on the participants.