TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for PANAGIOTIS KALAITZIS
The study session aimed to strengthen the role of youth workers in supporting the integration and empowerment of young migrants and refugees through a human rights-based approach to non-formal education. It addressed the pressing need for tailored, inclusive support for migrant and refugee youth navigating complex legal, social, and cultural realities across Council of Europe member states. The training focused on equipping youth workers with practical skills in intercultural competence, career guidance, rights-based advocacy, and labour market integration. It also addressed the need for a clearer understanding of legal statuses, terminology, and the disparities in national asylum and refugee frameworks. By fostering collaboration, the session created space for exchanging good practices and building sustainable networks among professionals and organisations. These objectives aligned directly with the Council of Europe’s commitment to promoting access to rights, social cohesion, and democratic participation for all young people, particularly those from marginalised and displaced communities. The study session also reinforced the value of youth work as a powerful instrument for inclusion, civic engagement, and social transformation.
The target group of this study session consisted of youth workers, educators, and professionals actively engaged in supporting the integration of young migrants and refugees. Participants were selected from a diverse range of Council of Europe member states, ensuring broad representation across regions, legal systems, and migration contexts. The group brought together individuals from various cultural and professional backgrounds, including both experienced practitioners and emerging youth leaders working with displaced youth. This international composition created a rich environment for intercultural dialogue, peer learning, and the exchange of practical integration strategies tailored to different national realities. The diversity of perspectives significantly enhanced the impact of the training and reinforced its relevance across multiple contexts in Europe.
The study session was based entirely on non-formal education methods, designed to foster experiential learning, participation, and peer exchange. We used a combination of interactive workshops, case study analysis, and simulation exercises to explore complex topics such as legal statuses of refugees, labour market integration, and intercultural dialogue. Participants engaged in role-plays to simulate real-life challenges faced by young migrants, and in world cafe discussions to share and reflect on integration practices across different countries. We incorporated tools from Council of Europe manuals like COMPASS for exploring human rights frameworks and ENTER Recommendation to discuss access to social rights. Visual mapping, storytelling, and group brainstorming were used to encourage creativity and critical thinking. These methods created a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that allowed participants to co-create solutions and build actionable strategies for supporting refugee and migrant youth.
The study session successfully enhanced the capacity of youth workers to support the integration of young migrants and refugees through rights-based, inclusive, and practical approaches. Participants deepened their understanding of legal frameworks across Council of Europe member states, improved their intercultural competence, and gained hands-on tools for providing tailored career guidance and labour market support. They also developed concrete action plans and proposals for future initiatives, many of which were rooted in real-world needs and contexts. The training fostered cross-border collaboration and peer learning, resulting in strengthened networks and long-term cooperation strategies.
The session was documented and promoted through the Council of Europe Youth Department’s official communication channels, as well as the websites and social media of the networks involved in migration and youth work.
I was actively involved in the design, preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the training. My responsibilities included co-creating the educational flow, leading sessions on intercultural competence, legal frameworks, and labour market integration for young refugees and migrants, and facilitating peer learning and action planning. I also ensured the integration of Council of Europe resources such as COMPASS, ENTER Recommendation, and other tools promoting human rights-based youth work. Throughout the session, I supported group dynamics, encouraged inclusive participation, and contributed to building a safe and empowering learning space.
Panagiotis is an excellent young trainer and co-worker. We have organized together three study sessions and i can say that i am more than happy and satisfied to have chosen him as a member of my team. He shows great empathy, he is always available and ready to support the team, he is always close to the participants and understands their needs while creating a safe invironment for them and he is always full of new ideas. I would reccomend him to anyone that would like to work with him.