TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Afonso Borges
The main aim of this activity was to strengthen the capacity of youth workers in the fields of environmental sustainability and youth participation through non-formal education methods. By engaging in group dynamics and nature-based learning, the seminar fostered teamwork, trust-building, and the development of personal, social, and professional competences in an immersive and collaborative environment.
Additionally, the activity aimed strongly at promoting intercultural exchange and the sharing of best environmental and sustainable practices in youthwork connected to personal and organizational settings, enabling participants to explore innovative approaches to youth work.
It also supported the design and implementation of sustainability workshops at the local level, including the development of the “It’s Time!” manual inside the KA210 project, while encouraging continuous reflection based on the Youthpass key competences to enhance learning outcomes and long-term impact.
The international group for the exploratory seminar was firstly composed of one representative team from each partner organisation in the consortium, from Portugal, Spain and Greece. Portuguese partner (Gerar Oportunidades) was hosting and coordinating the activty while partner organisations also contributed to the preparation, implementation, and follow-up of the activity.
In general, the exploratory seminar activity brought together youth workers and the project’s partner organisations as a means to support their capacity-building in sustainability and youth participation.
The exploratory seminar used diverse non-formal experiential and active-participation based approaches and methodologies, including team/group development exercises, artistic and body-expression exercises, collaborative and group-work activities. It also included practical workshops and exercises using immersive methods such as role-play and simulation activities to explore youth participation and sustainability in an active, hands-on way.
Learning was reinforced through continuous reflection, debriefings, and competence-based assessment of learning outcomes, guided by the trainers in order to support participants to take conclusions for their personal and professional development as youthworkers.
Outcomes from the activity strongly focused on learning outcomes, which revolve around sustainability and "green" skills, youth participation and intercultural learning. The seminar was thus an important step towards developing innovative approaches to non-formal education and youthwork connected to environmental education, bridging theory with practice.
In terms of tangible results, the seminar led to the first steps into the creation of the "It's Time" (KA210) project handbook, including important inputs from reflection sessions and exercises on innovative practices in youthwork and sustainablity.
Moreover, there was a large creation of visual content and media for dissemination and outreach of the project.
Personal responsiblities and tasks included the design, implementation and evaluation of the activity programme, ensuring quality and coherence with the projects objectives and expected outcomes.
This includes providing training and facilitation of the activity sessions.
Additionally, bringing the experience and expertise in the use of immersive and experiential learning approaches to the design and facilitation of programme sessions.