TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Carolina Caspa
The in-house On Arrival Training aimed to support ESC participants in their initial integration and learning journey by fostering personal development, group cohesion, and intercultural understanding through non-formal education.
The main objectives were to:
- Promote the development of personal, social, and professional competences through learner-centred non-formal learning approaches.
- Strengthen key competences such as multilingualism, digital competence, entrepreneurship, cultural awareness, critical thinking, time management, and teamwork.
- Raise environmental awareness by addressing topics such as sustainable travel, waste reduction and management, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage.
- Encourage group cohesion and cooperation, supporting participants in learning how to live and work together in an intercultural environment.
- Introduce participants to the host organisation and host country, including a short cultural orientation.
- Promote intercultural sensitivity and the use of inclusive language.
- Provide information about practical matters and support systems, including emergency contacts and mental health support services.
- Empower participants to design and implement their own short community-based or learning-oriented projects during their volunteering period.
The team consisted of three facilitators from the host country.
The participant group included 10 youngsters (aged 18-30) from France, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Portugal.
The training adopted a learner-centred and participatory approach, placing participants’ experiences, needs, and existing knowledge at the core of the learning process.
An interactive and inclusive learning environment was created to encourage active engagement, creativity, and peer learning. The methods used included:
- Energisers and team-building activities to support group cohesion.
- Experiential learning methods, such as storytelling, journaling, artistic expression, and creative media tools.
- Workshops and capacity-building sessions focused on practical application and real-life situations.
- Provided a meaningful intercultural exchange experience, where participants shared and learned about different cultures through food, language, music, and collaborative activities.
- Strengthened participants’ personal, social, and professional competences relevant to their volunteering projects.
- Promoted strong group cohesion, trust, and mutual support among participants.
- Enhanced participants’ understanding of the local cultural context, the city, and the host organisation.
- Supported participants in defining individual learning goals for the remainder of their volunteering period (5-6 months).
- Helped participants identify areas of interest and action for their involvement in community and organisational activities.
As the volunteer coordinator, developer and co-facilitator, I was involved throughout the implementation of the training. My responsibilities included contributing to programme design and methodological development, facilitating training sessions, and guiding group processes. I supported active participation while ensuring a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all participants.