TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Karolina Kosowska
Youth work is demanding and often emotionally intense, exposing youth workers and project coordinators to high levels of stress and an increased risk of burnout. "Inner Compass" was an international training course designed to address these challenges by promoting personal well-being, developing effective stress management techniques, and building long-term resilience in the field of youth work.
Objectives:
-Increase awareness of the causes and symptoms of stress and burnout specific to youth work.
-Equip participants with practical tools and strategies for managing stress and preventing burnout in daily practice.
-Promote emotional resilience through reflection on personal values, self-awareness, and mindfulness techniques.
-Enhance skills in setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in professional and personal contexts.
-Introduce outdoor education and nature-based methods as tools for self-care and well-being.
-Encourage peer learning and exchange of best practices among youth workers from different countries and cultural contexts.
-Foster a supportive network of youth professionals committed to sustainable and healthy youth work practices.
The activity targeted youth workers, educators, and project coordinators active in the youth work field who were interested in strengthening their self-care practices, enhancing their ability to support their teams, and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable working environment within their organizations and communities.
The activity brought together participants from the following countries: Poland, Spain, Belgium, Italy, France, the Czech Republic, Greece, and North Macedonia, creating a diverse international learning and exchange environment.
The training was based on a diverse mix of non-formal, experiential and outdoor education methods, designed to support learning through experience, reflection and knowledge exchange.
Examples of methods used include:
Integration and group-building activities, such as introductory stations (e.g. Jenga with reflective questions, cultural cards), a wellbeing-focused city game, and collective creation of expectations and cooperation rules.
Participatory learning methods addressing stress and burnout, including the World Café, experiential exercises (stress chair, stress container, walk & talk), as well as breathing, grounding and relaxation techniques, often applied through peer-to-peer learning.
Simulations and creative methods to explore boundaries and values, such as Forum Theatre (Theatre of the Oppressed), value hierarchy exercises, Ikigai work, journaling and group discussions within the Body Kindness module.
Outdoor and nature-based methods, including forest walks, trust exercises, solo reflection time, silent walks and sensory-based activities in nature.
Daily mindfulness practices, with morning routines involving yoga, meditation, breathing and movement exercises to enhance body awareness and emotional regulation.
Knowledge exchange formats, such as Open Space mini-workshops led by participants, a Tools Fair for sharing youth work practices, and training in Nonviolent Communication (NVC).
Theoretical and reflective elements, including a lecture on the biochemistry of stress, artistic expression, journaling, evaluation and summary sessions using Dixit cards, reflection tools and online surveys.
Testimonials from participants:
“Maintaining balance, set routine in mindfulness practices, do a prevention in a burnout (work with signs and stress containers), ask for help and reach out for supportive community when needed, chemistry of stress, importance of kindness and self-empathy”
“That boundaries are the best thing we have in our possession to prevent getting to that state, it’s important to be aware of them and practice them”
“That taking care of ourselves is a full time job.”
https://fundacja-cat.pl/news/w-3061/tc-inner-compass
My role in the trainers’ team included designing the overall training concept, defining both the general and specific objectives, and developing the full programme structure. I was responsible for selecting and adapting methods and tools in line with the learning goals and participants’ needs. I also co-conducted the training together with my co-trainer, Carlos Sanz Del Castillo, facilitating sessions and supporting group processes throughout the activity. In addition, I took part in the evaluation of the training, collecting feedback and reflecting on outcomes and impact.
On behalf of Fundacja Centrum Aktywności Twórczej (CAT), I am pleased to provide this reference for Karolina Kosowska, who worked with us as a trainer during the international training course “Inner Compass: Navigating Stress & Burnout in Youth Work”, held in Wieleń, Poland, from 13–19 October 2025.
As the organising organisation, we can confidently say that Karolina Kosowska exceeded our expectations in every aspect of her work. She demonstrated outstanding professionalism, excellent preparation, strong facilitation skills, and a truly inspiring approach to participants. Her presence had a significant positive impact on the quality of the training and on the well-being and learning experience of the group.
Karolina Kosowska played a key role in the training team, contributing to the full design of the activity. She was responsible for building the overall training concept, defining objectives, and developing the programme structure in line with participants’ needs and the learning goals of the project. Throughout the week she worked as a full-time trainer, co-facilitating the programme together with her co-trainer, and supporting group processes with great attentiveness and care.
We highly recommend Karolina Kosowska as an excellent trainer, facilitator, and programe designer for international youth work activities, particularly those focused on well-being, emotional resilience, stress prevention, and sustainable youth work practices. She is a reliable and valuable professional who brings both competence and heart to everything she does.