TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Heleri Alles
Training course helped to develop skills which are essential for multipilers: working with different target groups, understanding the concept of intercultural learning, developing personal learning process in the context of non-formal learning. Training tackled topics like what are the opportunities of YiA programme and developing participants’ knowledge of certain sub-programmes; additionally Youthpass as a important tool in valuing non-formal learning process was examined and and practicezised. We worked on how to analyze the needs of different target groups, how to motivate them and provide them information in attractive and useful way. The training course also gave participants a chance to practice their learned competences by organizing workshops in local school and on the streets of Drammen. All methods used during the training course were nonformal including group works, roleplays, personal tasks, learning buddies, artistic workshops and public actions.
Training course involved 28 participants from 8 countries across Europe (Norway, Estonia, UK, France, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Italy and Turkey). Intermezzo Ungdom was host and applicant organization. Training was lead by intercultural team of trainers: Heleri Alles from Estonia and Dmitrijus Bozko from UK with the support of Norwegian support team.
All methods used during the training course were nonformal including group works, roleplays, personal tasks, learning buddies, artistic workshops and public actions.
Our main objectives were connected to the priorities of Youth in Action programme. We see, that there are a lot of young people with fewer opportunities, who could really use international mobility and non-formal learning opportunities, but just don’t know about it. So our training course helped to train multipliers, who can really be the connection between different target groups and information, but can also understand what information young people need and motivate them and support there needed. One of these groups is young people who are unemployed, and thanks to our multipliers now many unemployed youth know about Youth in Action and can use it.
Our project also supported participation of young people. We see that youth (youth leaders) are the best multipliers, as they are able to connect easily to young people and create more opportunities to them. Youth participation is a lot about being active in different ways and supporting the community, and that’s why we need multipliers, who could be the connecting link in the society.
With the training we also supported intercultural learning, European values and cooperation between youth organizations on European level. We created a space for participants to share their experience and learn from each other, share their cultural background and think about their common concerns on European level: how to empower youth with fewer opportunities, how to avoid stereotyping in youth work etc. At the same time a powerful network of multipliers was created where participants continue to share their experiences and good practices. Project also helped to increase knowledge among participants and in Norwegian (Drammen’s) society about European Union, European programmes and Youth in Action in particular.
In addition, we put a lot of effort to give participants freedom to use their creativity and sense of initiative – from sharing their experiences in open space until carrying out full workshops at school and street campaigns-
With the project we achieved following objectives:
- participants learnt to work with different target groups
- participants learnt to understand the concept of intercultural learning and are aware of diversity issues
- participants developed personal learning process in the context of non-formal learning
- participants learned about the opportunities of Youth in Action programme and developed knowledge of certain sub-programmes and Erasmus+
- participants learnt to use Youthpass as a important tool in valuing non-formal learning process
- participants learnt to analyze the needs of different target groups, how to motivate them and provide information in attractive and useful way
- Participants gained practical experience how to provide youth related information in intercultural environment
- Drammen youth are now more aware about non-formal learning, Youth in Action programme and international mobility opportunities
- International network of multipliers has been created where participants are sharing their experience and new ideas in the field
Training course met participants personal learning needs in general, as we took into account their learning needs from the preparation phase till the last day – participants wrote down their learning needs in applications, shared them on first day and we tried to include all relevant aspects of them to the daily programme.
During the training participants could improve their spoken, written and reading English skills, they could learn to express themselves better in foreign language and improve their self-confidence in public speaking. They learned new vocabulary connected to youth work, non-formal learning and Youth in Action programme. They learned to understand the concepts of non-formal learning and intercultural learning and to analyze different levels of intercultural awareness. They used their mathematical competence, to solve everyday problems, they took small risks in planning their practical actions and making SWOT analyzes and they also coped with calculating Norwegian currency to their own. They improved their digital competence using e-mail, social networks, Youthpass system and google spreadsheets for communication connected to the project. They took initiative while preparing and carrying out workshops at school and street campaigns. They improved their social skills while living together and working together with people from other cultures. Participants learned to set themselves concrete learning goals and reflect on them together with learning buddy and learning diary.
I designed the training course and was 9 days full-time trainer.