TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Alexandra Mihaila
The training activity aimed to raise awareness among university students about environmental sustainability and to support young people in developing practical skills for initiating small-scale green actions within the university and local community.
The specific objectives were:
To increase participants’ understanding of sustainability and climate-related challenges
To promote environmentally responsible behaviour among young people
To develop competences in planning and implementing youth-led green initiatives
To encourage active citizenship and community involvement through sustainability actions
The training responded to the students’ association’s need to integrate sustainability principles into its activities and projects.
The training involved 16 participants aged 18–27, including local students and 5 international students participating in Erasmus+ mobility programmes from Italy, Greece, and Lithuania.
The trainers’ team consisted of 2 youth workers, including myself, working in an intercultural context.
The training was based on non-formal education and experiential learning, using methods such as:
Interactive workshops and group discussions on sustainability topics
World Café sessions focused on environmental challenges on campus
Group work for designing green micro-projects
Outdoor learning activities and observation tasks
Reflection groups and daily evaluation sessions
The methods encouraged active participation, critical thinking, and peer learning.
The outcomes of the training included:
Development of concrete green action plans (e.g. waste reduction, awareness campaigns, eco-friendly events)
Increased environmental awareness and responsibility among participants
Strengthened cooperation between local and international students
Improved understanding of sustainability principles in youth work
The success of the activity was measured through participant feedback, group reflections, and the quality of the proposed green initiatives.
I worked as a full-time trainer during the activity. My responsibilities included:
Co-designing the training programme and learning objectives
Facilitating workshops and group processes
Supporting participants in developing sustainability-focused action plans
Ensuring inclusive participation and a safe learning environment
Coordinating evaluation and reflection sessions
I was involved in all phases of the activity, from preparation to final evaluation.